John Hewson to negotiate with Tracy Grimshaw, Nine, over alleged defamation
Lawyers for the host of A Current Affair and former Liberal leader John Hewson have appeared in court after the retired politician said the long-running TV show defamed him in a segment about his insurance company.
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Former Liberal leader John Hewson will sit down at the negotiating table with A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw and the Nine Network after saying they defamed him by portraying him as incompetent.
The former federal opposition leader launched a defamation case in the Federal Court against Nine, Ms Grimshaw and journalist Danielle Post late last month.
The ACA story at the centre of the legal storm was, itself, about a thunderstorm that dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain across Sydney in early February and inundated units at Storage King North Parramatta.
Two storage unit owners appeared on ACA saying “insurance company” GSA, chaired by Dr Hewson, was ”dishonestly” refusing to pay out using fine print in the policy.
The Federal Court, on Friday, heard both parties wanted the matter sent to mediation so they could reach an agreement out of court.
“I hope for the parties’ sake it’s settled,” Justice Michael Wigney said, granting the application.
Dr Hewson claims ACA had defamed him by falsely portraying him as incompetent and as someone who condoned a culture of misconduct in his company.
“John Hewson - show leadership and get your company GSA Insurance to pay us and everyone who’s been dudded by your company,” Storage unit owner Adrian Dolahenty said in the ACA segment, according to a transcript filed with the court.
“When it comes to paying out policy holders they would rather cut and run.”
Court documents lodged by Dr Hewson say that ACA were emailed GSA’s version of events but it was only “begrudgingly paid lip service” by Ms Grimshaw at the end of the segment and repeatedly undermined by Mr Dolahenty’s statements.
The documents say GSA explained it was an insurance broker - not the insurer - and had no role in making the decision on the flooding.
Dr Hewson further alleges Ms Grimshaw’s conduct was “seriously dishonest” when the program “gratuitously” ran 27-year old archival footage of him being interviewed.
That was a reference to the famous birthday cake interview, where Dr Hewson appeared to struggle to explain if a birthday cake would cost more or less under his planned GST as Liberal leader.
Dr Hewson alleged that was used to discredit him.
Both parties will have until the end of September to find an agreement and will still have to file the documents they intend to rely on in court, in case the negotiations fall through.
The case is expected, if that happens, to be back before the Federal Court on September 25.