A former Fairfax reporter being sued for defamation has labelled accusations he lied in an article "outrageous and insulting", telling a Sydney court he did not take any glee in hurting someone's reputation.
John Garnaut, a former Fairfax journalist and former foreign policy advisor to the Prime Minister, is defending an article on political donor and philanthropist Chau Chak Wing, with the businessman claiming the article damaged his reputation by imputing that he bribed or conspired to bribe a UN official.
In the fourth day of evidence in the Federal Court, Mr Garnaut returned to the witness box.
Part of the article, published online in October 2015, was at the centre of Friday's proceedings, with Mr Chau's barrister Bruce McClintock SC pointing to a specific part which read:
"Because of an unfolding international bribery scandal, some officials believe the highly connected Chinese tycoon may prefer to bunker down in his personal 'imperial palace' just north of Guangzhou, beyond the reach of extradition treaties."
Mr McClintock put it to Mr Garnaut that he never spoke to any officials about the matter, calling it a "straight out lie".
"That's just an outrageous and insulting proposition," Mr Garnaut said. "It's the first time I've been accused of making something up in a story by any credible person."
Under cross examination Mr Garnaut said he knew that the article would damage Mr Chau's reputation but said he did not feel any joy about that.
"I never take any glee in hurting someone's reputation," he said.
"It is my duty to tell important facts as I see them."
Website was 'scrubbed', journalist says
Mr Garnaut also gave evidence on Friday following accusations brought forward during the case on Thursday regarding certain material being removed from Mr Chau's company website, as reported in the 2015 article.
He said after checking overnight, he found that websites had been "scrubbed" and stood by his words.
Mr Chau is arguing the article damaged his reputation by imputing that he bribed or conspired to bribe the former UN General Assembly President John Ashe, imputed that his behaviour warranted extradition, and that illicit payments were the basis of his Australian business empire.
Mr Garnaut and Fairfax are defending the article, arguing that it was reasonable, under the circumstances the article was published, for Dr Chau to be suspected of involvement in the Ashe bribery scandal.
The hearing continues.
