Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman launches legal action against Labor’s Tom Koutsantonis

Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman is taking extraordinary legal action against Labor frontbencher Tom Koutsantonis, demanding $100,000 and an apology within 14 days.

EXCLUSIVE: Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman is taking extraordinary legal action against Labor frontbencher Tom Koutsantonis in a bid to derail a conflict of interest inquiry, demanding $100,000 and a public apology for repeatedly accusing her on Twitter of lying to parliament.

The manoeuvre is Ms Chapman’s latest bid to scuttle a select committee into her scrapping of plans to build a deepwater port on Kangaroo Island, because she will argue parliamentary precedent demands proceedings be stayed because of associated legal action.

In a concerns notice issued to Mr Koutsantonis on Friday afternoon, Ms Chapman’s lawyers warn his “obvious malice in making the publications” means any defence will fail.

In a defiant statement to The Advertiser, Ms Chapman declared: “Bring it on. It is well past time for the matter to be removed from this kangaroo court to a competent court.”

Mr Koutsantonis said he had learned of the legal action when contacted by The Advertiser.

“I’m happy to defend myself and I look forward to the outcome of the select committee’s final report,” he said.

The concerns notice, spearheaded by prominent defamation barrister Andrew Harris, QC, argues Ms Chapman’s claim will be proved even without examining what she labelled as Mr Koutsantonis’s “disgraceful behaviour” during the select committee.

Ms Chapman is demanding a public apology and retraction of any suggestion that she lied to parliament, along with the $100,000 payment within 14 days – or she will commence defamation action.

Ms Chapman appears before the select committee on November 3. Picture: Keryn Stevens

It is understood the net proceeds of any settlement would be donated to Lifeline, in memory of her late brother Jim, whose former Kangaroo Island property has been at issue during the inquiry, which is expected to issue a report on November 18.

Ms Chapman told The Advertiser she considered Mr Koutsantonis’s behaviour “to be a stain on the reputation of the parliament” and bemoaned that “no one calls him out”.

“We are constantly appealing for more people to get involved in public life. Who wants to sign up to serve the people when there is a very real risk that you, your family and your staff will be attacked in the most personal and unfounded ways?” she said.

“I suggest (Labor leader) Peter Malinauskas has no alternative but to immediately sack Tom and set an example that certain behaviour should not be tolerated in public life.

“Anything less suggests that he, and every Labor MP, condones it.”

Tom Koutsantonis has said Ms Chapman should resign over the Kangaroo Island seaport decision. Picture: Mark Brake

Ms Chapman claims Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has “no alternative” but to sack Mr Koutsantonis over his behaviour. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

An Opposition spokesperson said: “This appears to be a last-ditch, desperate attempt by Vickie Chapman to distract from the inquiry and save what’s left of her political career.”

Ms Chapman’s high-profile lawyer Frances Nelson QC on November 8 urged Mr Koutsantonis to banish himself from the select committee, claiming a “reasonable apprehension of bias”.

Ms Chapman’s bid to stay the inquiry will rely on precedents including the suspension in May of a parliamentary inquiry into an infamous leaflet Labor distributed in Elder in 2014, when Annabel Digance was the ALP candidate.

That inquiry was stayed after Ms Digance was arrested and charged with blackmailing Mr Malinauskas. Ms Digance has argued she has no case to answer and the case is ongoing.

Another inquiry into independent Waite MP Sam Duluk – a member of the committee inquiring into Ms Chapman – was suspended last year because of a police investigation into his alleged assault of a female colleague.

Mr Duluk was acquitted in September but a magistrate harshly criticised his drunken behaviour.

Originally published as Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman launches legal action against Labor’s Tom Koutsantonis