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Publishers hit with defamation suits over ā€˜Medicare scandalā€™ reports
Defamation 2023-10-17 3:26 pm By Sam Matthews

Two cosmetic surgeons have filed defamation suits seeking aggravated damages over coverage by the ABC and Fairfax that allegedly painted them as ā€œoutlaw surgeonsā€ who mutilated a patient and exploited the Medicare system.

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Ex-commando Heston Russell wins $390,000 in defamation case against ABC
Judgment 2023-10-16 12:27 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge has awarded ex-commando Heston Russell $390,000 in damages over coverage of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, in the first ever post-trial judgment in a defamation case to consider the public interest defence.

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ABC can’t duck entrepreneur’s defamation case
Defamation 2023-09-25 4:13 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge has expressed his preliminary view that cases brought in Queensland cannot be thrown out where the costs of the claims are disproportionate to their importance, allowing a defamation case by entrepreneur Robert McVicker against the ABC to proceed.Ā 

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Peter V’landys stuck with defamation loss after High Court declines special leave
Defamation 2023-09-15 3:59 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys AM has failed in his bid to have the High Court take up his challenge to an appeals court ruling that found an ABC report on the killing of racehorses was not defamatory despite not being high quality journalism.

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Heston Russell defamation judge ‘disturbed’ by ABC press release
Defamation 2023-08-30 11:13 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge overseeing the defamation trial of former commando Heston Russell said he was “disturbed” by an ABC press release following the broadcaster’s decision to drop its public interest defence on the eve of trial, which was reinstated days later.

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Truth shouldn’t ā€˜straitjacketā€™ public interest defence, says judge in Heston Russell case
Defamation 2023-08-29 10:16 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge hearing closing submissions in Heston Russell’s defamation case against the ABC has expressed ā€œsignificant reservationsā€ about evidence by the former commando and said that a ā€œless than completeā€ story could still be protected under the new public interest defence.

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Higgins, Lehrmann expected to take stand at defamation trial
Defamation 2023-08-28 11:23 pm By Cindy Cameronne

The judge hearing a trial in defamation cases by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann against TV broadcasters ABC and Ten has said he expects both Lehrmann and alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins to take the witness stand.

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ABC journalist named in Heston Russell defamation case questioned on credibility of key source
Defamation 2023-08-01 10:28 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge has questioned an ABC journalist who is the target of a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell if he should have treated a key source who another source called a “showpony” more cautiously while reporting on alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.Ā 

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Public interest defence not defined by truth, ABC tells court in Heston Russell defamation case
Defamation 2023-07-31 9:26 pm By Cindy Cameronne

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has defended its reporting of alleged war crimes in a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell, saying the debate over whether its stories were in the public interest ā€œrises well above truthā€.Ā 

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ABC source for Heston Russell articles told reporter his memory was ‘hazy’, court hears
Sue Chrysanthou 2023-07-28 10:06 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A source for ABC articles over alleged war crimes that are at the centre of a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell told reporters his memory of the events was “hazy”, a court heard Friday.

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