7   Proceedings for defamation

This Act does not operate so as to provide or affect a defence to an action or proceeding for defamation.

Note. Section 27 (2) (a) of the Defamation Act 2005 provides that the publication of defamatory matter in the course of proceedings of a parliamentary body attracts the defence of absolute privilege in defamation proceedings, including (but not limited to):

(a)  the publication of a document by order, or under the authority, of the body, and

(b)  the publication of the debates and proceedings of the body by or under the authority of the body or any law, and

(c)  the publication of matter while giving evidence before the body, and

(d)  the publication of matter while presenting or submitting a document to the body.

Section 4 of that Act defines a parliamentary body to include a parliament or legislature, a house of a parliament or legislature and committees of any such parliament, legislature or house.