26A. (1) Any common law defence known as the Reynolds defence that, immediately before the commencement of section 12 of the Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026, could have been pleaded as a defence in a defamation action is abolished.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to causes of action accruing before the date of the coming into operation of section 12 of the Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026.]