Defamation

Former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his defamation case against Nine-owned Fairfax, with a judge finding Thursday it was true that Australia’s most decorated soldier committed civilian murders in Afghanistan.

With truth on its side, Nine’s defeat of soldier Ben Roberts-Smith’s lawsuit was a huge win for investigative journalism in Australia, but while it might make lawyers blink before bringing defamation cases, the victory is not a game-changer, experts say.

Accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann has discontinued his case alleging News Corp and journalist Samantha Maiden defamed him with the publication of two articles on the alleged assault of Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.

Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys AM has failed to revive his defamation case against the ABC over a 7:30 segment that revealed racehorses were being killed in violation of industry rules, despite the appeals court noting that the report “treated him very shabbily” and “was not high quality journalism.”

The judge overseeing defamation cases brought by accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith will deliver his long-awaited findings next week, ruling on whether allegations of civilian murder in Afghanistan against the country’s most decorated living soldier are substantially true.

The founders of farming charity Aussie Helpers have won a defamation case against a Victorian woman who made allegedly defamatory comments on Facebook that claimed they committed criminal fraud by using donations for personal purchases.

The ABC is relying on a new statutory public interest defence in a defamation case brought by accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann over its coverage of a National Press Club speech by his accuser, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.

Nine has abandoned its truth defence in a case brought by Euro Pacific CEO Peter Schiff over a 60 Minutes report on an international tax evasion investigation, and the bank boss is entitled to judgment in his favour, a court has heard.

Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich is preparing to bring a defamation case against One Nation’s NSW leader, Mark Latham, after he published a homophobic post on Twitter last month.

Former Army major Heston Russell has panned the ABC’s argument that it is not liable to pay damages in his defamation case because he identified himself and was given an opportunity to respond to stories that suggested he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner.