Queensland, a state usually averse to a suit, has seen an influx of them during the election campaign.
Campbell Newman has launched a defamation suit against Alan Jones, who is not currently suing anyone, but has been offered financial help by Clive Palmer, who is not suing News Corp any more but is still suing Newman, who also faces a defamation suit from lawyers representing bikies.
Phew.
Defamation action, usually the preserve of the privileged to shut down things being said about them that they dislike, is being used semi-effectively by the political and legal elite of Queensland during the election campaign, with more suits around Brisbane than a casting call for Mad Men.
So who is suing who in the zoo?
The premier, who has not ruled out taking defamation action against the Labor party, launched his defamation action against the influential (in Sydney, at least) broadcaster Jones after Jones used his Queensland election campaign spot on Fairfax radio’s 4BC to claim Newman had visited his home before the last election and promised the New Acland coalmine would not be expanded.
Along with his deputy, Jeff Seeney, Newman filed a claim claiming damages because of “the sensational language, tone and prominence of the matters complained of”. Other LNP ministers and MPs soon lined up to follow suit, with health minister Lawrence Springborg, treasurer Tim Nicholls and the assistant minister to the premier, Deb Frecklington, announcing their intentions to sue.
Court hawks will be watching with a keen eye to see how long these suits survive after the Queensland election. Jones has denounced the tactic, calling Newman a “political novice” for thinking he could silence him.
Palmer, who is to publicity what Shane Warne is to Tinder, a natural match, announced not only that he would he give multimillionaire Jones money to help him fight Newman’s case, but that he would sue the health minister, Springborg. Though that suit would not be launched until after the election, for reasons, as is often the case with Palmer, yet to be properly understood or established.
Palmer is juggling his own lawsuit against Newman, accusing him of defamation over claims Palmer tried to improperly influence the government. Palmer also tried to stop the Australian newspaper running stories digging into his business interests by launching defamation proceedings against News Corp.
He dropped the suit against News Corp last year, saying he needed to focus on his electorate, though he did not need to focus on it enough to also drop the one against Newman, it seems.
Palmer is not the only one using the courts to go after Newman. Solicitors Chris and Daniel Hannay are suing Newman for defamation over a comment he made last year that lawyers who represented bikies were “part of the criminal gang machine”.
Newman was due to file his response to the claim but his lawyers are trying to push the response date to Friday, just a day before the election.
