Category: Privacy

The ABC has abandoned its appeal in the threshold privacy case Jane Doe v ABC. Peter Applegarth SC looks at where that leaves the tort of invasion of privacy in Australian law and what’s at stake if we follow the English courts ... more

The NSW Court of Appeal overturns Justice Henric Nicholas’ decision to strike out all of Fairfax’s defences over a Sun-Herald gossip column about Dick Pratt’s former mistress Shari-Lea Hitchcock. The court agrees her behaviour is, arguably, a matter of public interest ... more

The Nine Network wins public interest argument over the accidental disclosure of some confidential documents by Corrections Victoria. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Osborn stops short of allowing the broadcaster to publish the remaining documents ... more

Western Australia Court of Appeal upholds decision that prevented Channel Seven from broadcasting a “hidden camera” recording of a private conversation between an employer and an employee ... more

Victoria’s Justice Felicity Hampel takes “the next, incremental step” in the development of a law of privacy by awarding damages to a woman whom the ABC identified as a rape victim ... more

Gay chief executive failed in his attempt to prevent The Mail on Sunday from publishing details of his private life. The House of Lords refused an appeal by BP boss Lord Browne of Madingley, finding that his relationship with a Canadian man was “generally accessible” ... more

Eastern suburbs party girl and former mistress of cardboard mogul Dick Pratt, Shari-Lea Hitchcock, wins a round against The Sun-Herald. Justice Henric Nicholas finds her social activities are not a matter of public interest and strikes out the newspaper’s defences ... more

The Mail on Sunday loses appeal in Prince Charles privacy case involving his personal journals. The English Court of Appeal found that the Prince of Wales’ right to privacy clearly outweighed the public interest, notwithstanding his candid comments about the Chinese ... more

Application by Channel 7 Perth under the Surveillance Devices Act refused by Supreme Court. Broadcast of secretly taped footage about employee sacking might “have a chilling effect on private speech” ... more

ABC documentary on a student legal centre gives rise to actions in misleading and deceptive conduct, breach of privacy, defamation and breach of confidence – all of which fail ... more

A prima donna celebrity against a celebrity-exploiting tabloid. Each in their time has profited from the other. This time it’s Naomi’s turn ... more

Mr and Mrs Douglas fail to have Hello!’s defence struck out despite destruction of vital evidence. Plaintiffs permitted to amend their claim against the celebrity magazine ... more