The risk that comments made on social media could prejudice court trials was discussed at yesterday's Standing Council of Law and Justice meeting in Sydney attended by Tasmania's Attorney-General, Brian Wightman.  

Mr Wightman said introducing uniform rules on obtaining take-down orders for prejudicial publications and material was being considered. 

A take-down order compels the online host to remove the offending material.  

``This is a difficult issue to address given the widespread use of social media, and this is why it is important that any approach to address this issue is carefully thought through and involves collaboration between jurisdictions,'' Mr Wightman said.

Ahead of the trial of the man who was later convicted of the rape and murder of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher, there were concerns that social media users were inadvertently breaching a suppression order. 

However, Law Society of Tasmania vice-president Anthony Mihal said few Tasmanian cases had attracted such a response on social media. ``It only becomes a problem in relation to high-profile cases and trials.'' 

Mr Mihal said it was difficult to control. ``You're never going to be able to stop people talking on social media,'' he said.

Mr Wightman also used the meeting to tell his counterparts from other states about the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner's investigation into insurance companies potentially discriminating against volunteers on the basis of age. 

``It is important that there aren't barriers to volunteer participation by these Tasmanians,'' Mr Wightman said.