The Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56-59 applies with full force to defamation proceedings, and there is no special dispensation for serial amendment of imputations. After multiple iterations of pleadings with experienced counsel, a list judge may refuse further amendment on the basis that 'enough is enough', and an appellate court will not interfere absent House v The King error. Brief ex tempore reasons given in a busy list context will be read in the context of the arguments before the judge.
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