‘Not lewd’: Nine apologises, settles lawsuit with MP Andrew Laming over ‘upskirt’ story
Former MP Andrew Laming has won an apology and settled with Nine news after the broadcaster admitted it was wrong to say he took a lewd photograph up a woman’s skirt.
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Nine News has apologised to former MP Andrew Laming and said it was wrong to suggest the politician took a “lewd” photograph of a woman in his electorate in a 2021 news segment.
Dr Laming sued Nine claiming the network broadcast a report that alleged the MP took an indecent photograph of a woman that showed her underwear and buttocks under her skirt as she bent down to stack a fridge with drinks.
At the time he said he photographed the woman because it was funny to see her trying to fit an “impossible” amount of drinks in the fridge.
The MP enlisted the same defamation legal team as Christian Porter, barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC and lawyer Rebekah Giles, as he launched defamation action in the Federal Court.
His legal team claimed Nine’s allegation was false and the network falsely portrayed him as “lecherous” and “a pervert”.
Ms Chrysanthou, on Wednesday, said the case had settled “on confidential terms” and read an apology from Nine in the Federal Court.
“Nine News has now seen material which indicates that the photograph Dr Laming took was not lewd in nature,” Nine’s apology reads.
“Nine News unreservedly withdraws those allegations about Dr Laming and apologises to him and his family for the hurt and harm caused by the report.”
Dr Laming, in a statement released by his lawyers, said he was pleased Nine had apologised because there had been no interest in hearing the facts at the time.
“A citizen is entitled to come before the Courts and have their complaint heard in a fair and impartial forum with all the evidence presented,” Dr Laming said.
“I was denied that due process and a fair hearing in the media, but it has come today.”
He praised his legal team, family, supporters and Australia’s defamation laws and hit out at “the stream of bizarre allegations” from his political critics last year.
Dr Laming became a controversial figure in the Morrison government after other members of his Queensland electorate complained about his behaviour online.
He apologised in parliament, on the orders of the then-Prime Minister, and then sensationally withdrew the apology saying he didn’t even know what his apology was about.
The former MP sent legal notices to multiple journalists, including from the publisher of this masthead, as the allegations spread around social media.
High profile ABC journalist Louise Milligan was also hit with a lawsuit which ultimately cost the public broadcaster about $200,000.
Nine has been contacted for comment.
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