Much of our defamation law is contained in judge-made rules and rules of court which deal with topics such as the onus of proof, lodgements, apologies and the law relating to privilege. Other aspects of our law are to be found in the Defamation Act 1961. The coming into effect of the European Convention on Human Rights Act as part of our domestic law is bound to put hallowed principles of law and practice under the spotlight and is likely to result in different attitudes and emphasis in the future administration of our defamation laws by the courts. I mention the ECHR because the changes embodied in the new ECHR Act have the potential to alter the tone if not the entire substance of the debate on defamation law reform.