Applicant's original proceedings failed in the District and Appeal courts ... Federal Court to the rescue ... Unsuccessful multi-pronged attempt to strike out a claim against crowdfunder chuffed.org and original defendant ... Original article in Honi Soit ... Janek Drevikovsky reports ... more
Year: 2022
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Former SAS medic tells of Roberts-Smith boasting he killed Afghan teen ... "It was the most beautiful thing" ... Code of silence prevented reporting to superiors ... Confident Afghan teen was in photograph ...Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Fifth and final day of cross-examination of SAS trooper, Person 14 ... Denies telling journalist Chris Masters that a rookie shot an Afghan detainee ... Denies smearing Roberts-Smith ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
SAS trooper under cross-examination for fourth day ... Tells of meeting journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie ... Masters asked about Whiskey 108 mission and 2012 mission ... Evidence challenged on account of 2012 mission ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Facebook Inc v Australian Information Commissioner
Full Federal Court rejects appeal from Facebook Inc over leave to serve originating process ... Facebook Inc ruled to carry on business in Australia by virtue of data processing agreement with Facebook Ireland, use of cookies and interface for app developers ... Ruled to collect personal information through cookies ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Third day of cross-examination of Person 14 ... Tells of doubts about circumstances of Ben Roberts-Smith's VC award ... Denies resentment over award ... Evidence fellow patrol commander disliked Roberts-Smith ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Second day of cross-examination of SAS sergeant Person 14 ... Says not suggesting weapon he saw carried by Roberts-Smith was the one used to kill Afghan male ... Denies "rookie" had killed before Whiskey 108 mission ... Denies assaulting American female soldier in 2012, says he was assaulted ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
The courts: open and shut
Latest data ... Suppression and no publication orders from 2017 to 2021 ... Prejudice to administration of justice versus open justice ... Five-year trend is up and up ... Victoria's amended Open Courts Act led to more suppression orders ... Data prepared by Gina McWilliams, senior News Corp lawyer ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Second SAS trooper gives evidence at Roberts-Smith trial ... Tells Court of witnessing Roberts-Smith order shooting of unarmed detainee in 2012 ... Links Roberts-Smith to machine gunning detainee with prosthetic leg in 2009 ... Cross-examination commences ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Second day of cross-examination of trooper Person 41 ... Trooper denies inventing account of Roberts-Smith ordering execution to assuage guilt or cover up for cowardice ... Ashamed at drinking from trophy prosthetic leg ... Denies he was concerned over allegations of war crimes on later mission ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Andrew Laming v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd & Anor
Queensland MP Andrew Laming sues over broadcast alleging lewd conduct in taking photograph ... Succeeds in striking out contextual imputation he is unfit to be an MP ... Nine succeeds in retaining "creep" contextual ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Resumption of trial in Roberts-Smith action ... Fellow trooper gives evidence ... Tells of Roberts-Smith giving order to another trooper to shoot unarmed Afghan detainee ... Tells of seeing Roberts-Smith shoot another detainee with machine gun burst ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more