Revealed — The court documents on why Sarah Hanson-Young is suing David Leyonhjelm
SARAH Hanson-Young has accused fellow Senator David Leyonhjelm of spreading defamatory comments “in order to hold her up to public shame and disgrace” to a mass audience.
- Sarah Hanson-Young slams David Leyonhjelm’s ‘slut-shaming’ remarks as defamation case looms
- But David Leyonhjelm says comments are legitimate
- Then Sarah Hanson-Young’s legal stoush fund is flooded with donations
GREENS Sarah Hanson-Young has accused fellow Senator David Leyonhjelm of spreading defamatory comments “in order to hold her up to public shame and disgrace” to a mass audience, court documents allege.
A statement of claim, filed in the Federal Court by the Senator’s lawyers, and obtained by The Advertiser, show Senator Hanson-Young’s is suing Senator Leyonhjelm over comments made in four different forums, including Facebook, Sky News, 3AW radio and ABC’s 7.30 program.
Senator Leyonhjlem made the remarks after a heated exchange in the Senate, during which he had told Senator Hanson-Young to “stop shagging men.”
Senator Hanson-Young responded by calling Senator Leyonhjelm a “creep.”
She said proceedings have been filed following “defamatory statements” Senator Leyonhjelm made and continues to make.
“It was always my preference that Senator Leyonhjelm apologise and acknowledge how hurtful, defamatory and damaging his comments were, however he refuses to do so,” she told The Advertiser.
In the court documents, Senator Hanson-Young’s lawyer argues Senator Leyonhjelm’s comments were made to a “mass audience, which he knew included the applicant’s child and family.”
Senator Hanson-Young said the Federal Court did not have the power to compel Senator Leyonhjelm to apologise, but it did have the power to award damages in her favour.
She said she would donate any money to “to two very worthy organisations – Plan International and the Working Women’s Centre SA.”
Court action is being funded by donations after a GoFundMe page was set up by writer and commentator Jane Caro and Emeritus Professor Simon Chapman AO.
Senator Leyonhjlem, who is overseas, told The Advertiser last night he would not be in a position to comment about the action until he returned to Australia. He has previously defended his comments.
Senator Leyonhjlem, claimed Hanson-Young had prompted his outburst in Parliament in June when she interjected during a debate about whether pepper spray should be legalised following a string of violent attacks on women.
Labor, the Coalition and the Greens voted against the motion, with the Greens accusing the Senator who put it forward, Fraser Anning, of trivialising women’s safety.