Defamation Lawyers in Queensland
Accused or Defamed? Protect Your Reputation Today.
Whether you believe you have been defamed or have received a defamation claim, early advice can help you understand your position. Stonegate Legal assesses the publication, the evidence and your options, starting with a free 30-minute consultation.
- Free 30 minute consultation. Confidential, no-obligation advice on your case.
- Practical options. We assess whether removal, correction, negotiation or urgent court relief is appropriate in your circumstances.
- Talk directly to a defamation lawyer. Not a call centre, not a paralegal screening call.
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Defamation Law Queensland
Expert Defamation Lawyers Protecting Your Reputation
Defamation disputes turn on what was published, who received it, what it conveyed about the person identified, and whether it has caused or is likely to cause serious harm. A viable response also depends on potential defences, the applicable deadlines, the evidence and the likely cost of the dispute. Stonegate Legal advises people bringing claims and people responding to them.
Queensland Litigation Lawyers
What Is Defamation Under Queensland Law?
This video explains what defamation means under Queensland law, how a publication can affect a person’s reputation, and why the words, audience and context matter.
- A publication that conveys a defamatory meaning about an identifiable person may support a claim if it has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to their reputation. The context and available defences matter.
- It can happen anywhere. Online, in print, or face-to-face, from a fake Google review to a comment made in your workplace or community.
- It spreads instantly and publicly. In today's digital world, a single false statement can do serious damage before you've even seen it.
Time is critical
Strict deadlines apply - acting fast protects your options
Defamation is governed by hard time limits under the Defamation Act 2005 (Qld). Miss one and your rights can be lost.
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12 Months
Bringing a claim:
Defamation proceedings generally have a one-year limitation period from publication. Have the publication date and any possible extension assessed promptly.
28 Days
Offer to make amends:
The applicable period is generally 28 days after a Concerns Notice is given, but it can change if further particulars are requested and provided. Obtain advice promptly about the period in your matter.
14 Days
Further particulars of a Concerns Notice:
If the publisher properly requests reasonable further particulars, the person who gave the Concerns Notice must provide them within 14 days after receiving the request, or within a longer period agreed by both parties. Failure to do so means the person is taken not to have given the Concerns Notice for this purpose.
Fixed-fee Concerns Notices
Clarity from the start, no hidden costs
For a set fee, our defamation lawyers review your case, prepare a tailored Concerns Notice under the Defamation Act 2005 (Qld), and handle delivery to the offending party — a clear, professional starting point without hourly-rate surprises.
What you get
Case review, a tailored Concerns Notice, and its delivery — a professional first step toward fast resolution.
No hidden costs
One set fee for expert support and peace of mind. Book a free consult to see if your matter qualifies.
Which best describes you?
Defamation advice for making a claim and defending a claim.
I HAVE BEEN DEFAMED
A damaging allegation can spread through an online review, social media post, email, conversation or news report. But a statement is not actionable simply because it is offensive or untrue.
We assess what was published, who received it, whether it identifies you, what it means, and whether it has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. We also consider possible defences, the available evidence, deadlines and whether the likely outcome justifies the cost.
We can help you:
- Preserve the publication and evidence of its impact.
- Assess whether a defamation claim is viable.
- Prepare a Concerns Notice where appropriate.
- Seek a practical resolution, such as damages, removal, or an apology.
- Consider court proceedings or urgent relief where the circumstances justify it.
*30-min free, no obligation consult
I'VE BEEN ACCUSED
A Concerns Notice, letter of demand and court documents require different responses. Before replying, it is important to understand exactly what you are alleged to have published and the meanings the other person says it conveyed.
We review the publication, the alleged defamatory meanings, the evidence and any available defences. We then advise you on your options, which may include requesting clarification, negotiating a resolution, making an offer to make amends where appropriate, or defending proceedings.
We can help you:
- Review the notice, letter or court documents and identify any immediate deadlines.
- Assess the allegations and available defences.
- Advise you before you remove content, apologise or respond publicly.
- Prepare a response or offer to make amends where appropriate.
- Negotiate a resolution or defend proceedings if necessary.
*The time available for an offer to make amends depends on the notice and any request for further particulars. Seek advice promptly.
Do I have a defamation claim?
| Question Stonegate assesses | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What exactly was published, and to whom? | A draft, private thought and communication to another person raise different issues. |
| Would readers identify you? | A person need not always be named to be identifiable. |
| What meaning would an ordinary reader take from it? | The actionable meaning may differ from the words the publisher intended. |
| Has it caused, or is it likely to cause, serious harm? | The threshold requires attention to the publication and its actual context. |
| Is there a viable defence? | Truth, honest opinion and other defences may change the assessment. |
| Is pursuing it worthwhile? | The likely remedy, evidence, defendant’s position and legal costs all matter. |
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Get a clear answer on your defamation matter today.
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Defamation matters we can help with
Defamation disputes arise in many settings. What matters is the precise publication, who saw or heard it, the meaning it conveyed and its effect on the person’s reputation. We advise people concerned about a publication and people accused of making one.
| Situation | How Stonegate Legal can help |
|---|---|
| Google reviews and other online reviews | A negative review is not automatically defamatory. We examine its exact words, the meaning readers would take from them, who the review identifies and the evidence of any serious reputational harm. |
| Social media posts and group messages | Posts, comments and messages can reach very different audiences. We help preserve the full exchange and assess its context, audience and any available defences. |
| Allegations shared at work or in business | An allegation sent to an employer, client or professional contact can have serious consequences even if few people receive it. We assess what was communicated, to whom, and whether the occasion of publication affects the claim or defence. |
| News reports, podcasts and other media | Headlines, interviews, audio and edited extracts can convey meanings beyond a single quoted sentence. We review the publication as a whole and the allegations it conveys. |
| Anonymous online posts | When the publisher is unidentified, we assess the available evidence and whether steps to identify them are proportionate to the potential claim. |
| Advice before publication | We can review a proposed review, allegation, article or public statement and explain the defamation risks before it goes live. |
What Stonegate Legal clients say
Reviews of Stonegate Legal’s Client Service
These Google reviews reflect clients’ experiences across Stonegate Legal’s practice areas. The outcome of a defamation matter depends on its own facts, evidence and legal issues.
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The Process
A transparent path, handled with precision
Defamation matters move quickly, and so do we. From your first conversation with us you’ll know exactly where you stand, what your options are, and what happens next. No jargon, no surprises, just a clear plan and steady hands at every stage.
STEP 01
A confidential 30 minute consultation where we assess your situation, whether you’re bringing a claim or defending one, and give you an honest view of your position and options.
We map out the strongest path forward, explain the likely costs and timeframes, and confirm the urgent deadlines that apply to your matter so nothing is left to chance.
We draft and serve a legally compliant Concerns Notice on your behalf, or if you’ve received one, prepare a strategic response or Offer to Make Amends within the required timeframe.
We explore whether the dispute can be resolved through an apology, correction, content removal, an offer to make amends or negotiated terms. We explain the costs and risks of settlement and litigation so you can decide how to proceed.
If the matter can’t be resolved, we file or defend proceedings and run your case with precision, managing every deadline, document and appearance through to judgment.
Questions and answers
Clear Answers About Complex Questions
A few of the questions we’re asked most often by Queensland businesses and individuals considering legal action.
Still Got Questions?
Your situation may involve facts the FAQs do not cover. Speak with us about the publication, notice or proposed statement.
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Can I sue over a Google review or social media post?
Yes, a Google review or social media post can give rise to a defamation claim if it identifies you, conveys a defamatory meaning, was published to someone else and has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. A negative review alone is not enough. The wording, audience, context and any available defence all matter.
Can my company bring a defamation claim?
Some companies can bring defamation claims, but most cannot. A company may qualify if it has fewer than 10 employees and is not associated with another corporation. Certain not-for-profit corporations may also qualify. An eligible corporation must show serious financial loss, or the likelihood of it. A director or employee may have a personal claim if the publication also defames them.
What evidence should I save?
Save the entire publication, including screenshots, the URL, account name and date. Keep surrounding comments or messages that show its context, and record who may have seen it. Preserve any evidence of reputational impact, such as messages from clients, lost work or questions raised by professional contacts. Avoid editing the original material.
I received a Concerns Notice. What should I do first?
Keep the notice and the publication it refers to, note when you received it, and obtain legal advice promptly. The notice may affect the time available to make an offer to make amends. Before responding, you need to understand the exact meanings alleged, whether the notice contains sufficient particulars and what defences or resolution options may be available.
Do I need to send a Concerns Notice before suing?
Generally, yes. In Queensland, a person usually must give the proposed defendant a Concerns Notice identifying the defamatory imputations and allow the applicable period for an offer to make amends to pass before starting defamation proceedings. The legislation provides limited exceptions, so the notice and any approaching limitation deadline should be checked together.
What can I seek besides damages?
A practical resolution may include removal of the material, a correction, an apology or an agreement against further publication. An injunction may be available in suitable circumstances, but it is not automatic. The appropriate outcome depends on what was published, the harm caused, the publisher’s response and the cost and risk of further action.
How much could a defamation dispute cost?
Costs depend on the work required and whether the dispute resolves after a Concerns Notice, through negotiation or in court. A contested case may involve solicitors’ fees, barristers’ fees, court costs and a risk of paying some of the other side’s costs. Stonegate Legal can explain the scope and fee for a Concerns Notice and provide an estimate for further work before you decide how to proceed.
Will I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. A dispute may resolve through a Concerns Notice, an offer to make amends or negotiations. If the parties cannot reach an acceptable outcome, proceedings may be necessary. We assess whether litigation is proportionate to the likely benefit, available evidence and costs before recommending it.
Can Stonegate advise before I publish something?
Yes. We can review a proposed review, article, allegation or public statement and advise on the defamatory meanings it may convey and the risks of publication. The advice will depend on the complete wording, its context, intended audience and the material available to support what is said.
What happens in the free consultation?
In the initial 30-minute consultation, you can explain what was published or what claim you have received. We will identify the immediate issues, explain what documents we need to review and discuss possible next steps. A detailed merits opinion or drafted response may require further work, which we will scope and price separately before it begins. It is not legal advice.
A few of the questions we’re asked most often by Queensland businesses and individuals considering legal action.
*No obligation consult
Book Your Free Consult
Speak with a Queensland defamation lawyer
Tell us what was published or what claim you received. We’ll explain what information we need, assess the immediate deadlines, and discuss the appropriate next step in your initial consultation.