Christian Porter says his former criticism of existing defamation laws has become more "nuanced" since beginning his legal action against the ABC.
As attorney-general, Mr Porter backed significant reform to defamation laws, saying in 2019 they "don't strike the perfect balance between public interest journalism and protecting individuals from reputational harm".
Mr Porter is no longer the first law officer of the land, having been shifted to the Industry, Science and Technology portfolio in a March reshuffle to allow him to remain in Cabinet while he pursues legal action.
He claims he was defamed by an ABC online story from February about an alleged historic rape by an unnamed serving cabinet minister, arguing he was easily identifiable.
Mr Porter publicly identified himself as the minister in question nearly a week later, and has always strenuously denied the allegations.
Asked today if his views about defamation laws remained as they were in 2019, or if his views were more nuanced, he said it was the latter.
"And I'm only at the very early stages of being inside that system. But one thing I can guarantee is that the view that I took inside the system isn't going to be the view that emerges outside the system. But that's something I'll have to think about on the way through — I don't think the balance is right at the moment."
Asked how he could reconcile his former views about Australia's defamation laws and his views now, he said: "I'm not there yet."
"I'm at the beginning of a process that a lot of Australians go through when they take on an opponent that they believe has defamed them, and that's something that's going to inform your decision-making and your thinking about that balance," Mr Porter said.
"But I went into this thinking the balance wasn't right and I've seen things that I didn't understand perfectly being outside the system."
