By Ben Grubb and Michaela Whitbourn
Billionaire tech founder Richard White, one of Australia’s richest men, is at the centre of a legal bid to suppress court documents in a feud with an eastern suburbs beauty entrepreneur and former Real Housewives of Sydney contender.
White’s lawyers sought a suppression order on Tuesday preventing affidavits filed in the dispute with Linda Rogan, owner of a Double Bay laser clinic and self-described “beauty addict”, from being released publicly before a final hearing.
Linda Rogan outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday and tech billionaire Richard White.Credit: Nick Moir / Oscar Colman
The Federal Court made an interim suppression order and referred the suppression dispute to a duty judge, Ian Jackman, who is expected to hear the matter on Wednesday.
Rogan’s barrister, Bridie Nolan, told the court in Sydney that her client did not oppose the release of the documents.
Nolan said her client “supports the principles of open justice” and had already expressed her view that she had “no objection to a third party obtaining the information”.
John-Paul Redmond, acting for White, had initially sought an order that the documents “not be released until such time as they are before the ... judge” eventually hearing the case.
At the centre of the Federal Court dispute is Rogan’s bid to set aside a bankruptcy notice issued to her by White in August. This is a formal demand for payment of at least $10,000 that may be made following a court order.
A person has 21 days to comply with a bankruptcy notice. If they fail to do so, they have committed an act of bankruptcy.
“The application raises a number of grounds,” Nolan said. “One of the allegations that is made is that this bankruptcy notice is an abuse of process; it’s been served for a collateral purpose.”
She said there was also a legal question about whether the NSW Local Court had made a “final judgment” that would enable White to issue a bankruptcy notice.
Linda Rogan, left, and her barrister, Bridie Nolan, far right, outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Nick Moir
“My client’s of modest means. My friend’s client is not,” Nolan told the court, as she explained that one hearing of the substantive issues would be preferable.
Judicial Registrar Sydney Birchall referred Rogan’s application to set aside the bankruptcy notice to a judge for determination at a later date, and extended the time for complying with the notice to 4.30pm on the first court date before the judge.
He also made an interim suppression order over affidavits filed by Rogan and White in the bankruptcy dispute, which prevents their release to third parties until further order of the court.
This order will remain in place until Jackman has heard and ruled on the application for a suppression order.
White’s estimated fortune is $11.6 billion, according to The Australian Financial Review’s 2024 Rich List, on which he came in at No.11 ahead of Channel Seven’s Kerry Stokes ($11.3 billion) and just behind tech giant Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht ($13.62 billion).
Most of his wealth comes from the ASX-listed logistics software company WiseTech Global, which he founded in 1994 and where he serves as chief executive.
Rogan was touted last year as a potential cast member on The Real Housewives of Sydney, but ultimately the TV deal did not proceed.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.