The treasurer is having a “lieu day” while fighting a defamation case in a Sydney court, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, has said.
Joe Hockey is suing Fairfax Media for defamation for publishing articles that he said implies he is corrupt and accepts bribes.
The trial is in its second day; Hockey gave evidence on Monday and Tuesday.
Abbott was asked during a press conference in Kalgoorlie on Tuesday if this was the best use of time for the treasurer, whose salary is funded by the taxpayer.
The prime minister lashed out at the suggestion that the trial was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“I think anyone who knows the treasurer knows that he was working all weekend so I suppose maybe he is having a bit of time in lieu today,” Abbott said.
“Every member of this government works incredibly hard and I think it’s pretty unreasonable, if I may say so, for people to start bandying around that kind of question.”
The original articles published in Fairfax outlets in May last year allege that a fundraising group, the North Sydney Forum, charged an annual fee of $22,000 in exchange for access to Hockey.
Lawyers for the treasurer said the headline “Treasurer for sale” brought Hockey’s reputation into disrepute, and are seeking an undisclosed amount of money in damages.
