ABC appeals Judge Gibson’s decision not to “strike in” Eddie Obeid’s “exculpatory” press conference. The national broadcaster wants the matter complained of and Obeid’s subsequent press conference regarded as one publication ... more
Year: 2006
Ainsworth v Burden
Poker machine entrepreneur Len Ainsworth loses his appeal against a jury verdict that found a letter by the former head of the NSW police licensing unit was “published in circumstances unlikely to cause harm”. Is this bitter 12-year saga finally over? ... more
Echo Publications Pty Ltd and Fast Buck$ v Ross Tucker
Qualified privilege – common law and s.22 – got a thorough airing in the Echo newspaper’s appeal against a decision in favour of rival Byron Bay publisher Ross Tucker. Will Mason, Hodgson and McColl buy it? ... more
Maurice Kriss v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
Award of $100,000 damages against The Sydney Morning Herald for defamation of a barrister after Justice Michael Adams found that dishonesty and breach of trust fell short of “shoddy advice”. A further amount of $1,008 for injurious falsehood … more
Ainsworth v Burden
Two trials and two appeals later, poker machine entrepreneur Len Ainsworth still doesn’t have the result he wants in his ancient battle with former NSW police officer Leslie Burden ... more
Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
Coco Roco restaurateurs win appeal over lacerating review by Sydney Morning Herald food critic Matthew Evans. Justice Beazley says the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and the trial judge’s directions were inadequate ... more
Nguyen v Nguyen & Vu Publishers & Ors
Staunch anti-Communist and former publisher of The Bell of Saigon awarded $60,000 over defamation by rival publishers. Acting Justice Patten finds evidence of express malice … more
Roland Bleyer v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd
Gold bullion in the Philippines, platinum reserves in Siberia, crude oil from Saudi Arabia, hospitals in China, low-cost housing in Colombia, worm farms in the US. Justice McClellan presides over an extraordinary week of evidence from alleged conman “Sir” Roland Bleyer ... more
Richard Talbot v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Piers Akerman made a fundamental mistake in answering an interrogatory. He now says he didnt rely on Ross Turnbull as a source for his attack on NRMA director Richard Talbot. The defence seeks to withdraw and correct Akermans original answer. Judge Gibson suggests this must effect his belief in the information published ... more
Richard Talbot v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
The bitter factional feud that consumed the board of the NRMA is being played out again – this time in the NSW District Court as “dissident” director Richard Talbot sues The Daily Telegraph over a Piers Akerman column ... more
Craftsman Homes Australia Pty Ltd v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd
Acting Justice Rex Smart’s massive judgment finds for Channel Nine in defamation but against the broadcaster in trespass and misleading and deceptive conduct. Nine ordered to pay damages of $310,000 … more
Sedition discussion paper – ALRC
Journalists and artists overreacted to the government’s sedition laws, according to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s David Weisbrot. In fact, the legislation was a considerable improvement on the old version of sedition. Even so, the ALRC would like to see greater protections for freedom of expression ... more