Tag Archives: politician

Politician not so pushy – Sophie Mirabella wins $175,000: Mirabella v Price & Benalla Newspapers Pty Ltd [2018] VCC 650

Posted on August 15, 2018 by

Sophie Mirabella was the Member of the House of Representatives for the seat of Indi in rural Victoria from 2001 to 2013. In 2015, the Liberal Party pre-selected her once again to run in the 2016 election. Her opponent was … Continue reading →

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Tweed Shire Mayor gets revenge threefold – Milne v Ell [2017] NSWSC 555

Posted on May 16, 2017 by

Property developer, William Robert Ell sued Tweed Shire Councillor, Katie Milne in defamation in 2014. He sued over a letter to the editor which Ms Milne had written about a contentious building development conducted by Mr Ell. While Mr Ell … Continue reading →

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Hockey hoists Fairfax on its own placard: Hockey v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 652

Posted on July 14, 2015 by

On 5 May 2014, Fairfax, through the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Canberra Times, ran a series of articles about a Liberal Party fundraising entity called the North Sydney Forum. North Sydney is the seat held by Australia’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Damages, Defamatory meaning, government and political matter, News, Qualified privilege, Trial, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mildura Water Corporation Appeal hosed down: Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation v Di Masi & Ors [2014] VSCA 104

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

In 2012, a jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria sat in Mildura, a small orange-picking town on the border of NSW, for 22 days (there were a further four days of legal argument) and heard a defamation case. At … Continue reading →

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Setka further set back by the Prime Minister in Court of Appeal: Setka v Abbott & Anor [2013] VSCA 345

Posted on December 4, 2013 by

  John Setka is the Divisional Branch Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). On 10 February 2012, the now Prime Minister (then Leader of the Opposition), attended a conference of the … Continue reading →

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English Tweet not so Innocent: Lord McAlpine v Bercow [2013] EWHC 1342 (QB)

Posted on May 30, 2013 by

In England, Lord McAlpine is a former Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and a former Party Treasurer. He was a close aide to Margaret Thatcher during her time as Prime Minister and he had a significant political profile in … Continue reading →

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Google wins but loses again, now in UK: Tamiz v Google Inc [2013] EWCA Civ 68

Posted on February 28, 2013 by

Payam Tamiz, an English Conservative politician who had been running for the local elections in Thanet, sued Google for anonymous comments on a blog that was created on Google’s blogger platform, “London Muslim”. The comments were posted between 28 and … Continue reading →

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Murray Water Corporation sent down the river for $295,000: Belbin& Others v Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation [2012] VSC 535

Posted on January 9, 2013 by

In the northwest of Victoria sits the orange-picking town of Mildura on the Murray River. To get there from Melbourne usually involves a 6-hour drive or a small flight on a plane with a flip-top lid. But it was there … Continue reading →

Posted in Damages, fair and accurate report, Qualified privilege, Reciprocal duty-interest, Trial, Truth | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Setka Setback against Liberal’s Libel: Setka v Abbott & Anor [2012] VSC 534

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

On 10 February this year, Tony Abbott, (yes the leader of the Coalition) spoke at a conference of the Masters Building Association. He spoke about the Australian Building and Construction Commission and his words were republished by Sky News. He … Continue reading →

Posted in contextual truth, defences, government and political matter, Strike out application | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mayor’s claim against nun to be tried again: Lloyd-Jones v Allen [2012] NSWCA 230

Posted on August 30, 2012 by

  Muriel and Gary Campbell are members of an Aboriginal family living in Bermagui, NSW.  In October 2006 racist graffiti directed towards Aboriginals was painted on a bridge in the area and around that time there was a fight on … Continue reading →

Posted in government and political matter, Honest opinion, Malice, Qualified privilege, Reciprocal duty-interest, Trial | Tagged , | Leave a comment