More time for Crikey on Lachlan Murdoch defamation defence
Online media outlet Crikey has been granted an extension to file its defence in an ongoing defamation case with News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch.
Online media outlet Crikey has been granted an extension to file its defence in an ongoing defamation case with News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch, despite allegations the news site was “abusing” the proceedings to further a crowd-funded anti-Murdoch campaign.
The court heard on Tuesday that counsel for Private Media, the company that owns Crikey, had applied to update its defence for a fourth time, in light of documents revealed in a $US1.6bn lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News in the US.
In granting the short extension, judge Michael Wigney cautioned Crikey about deficiencies in its defence as pointed out by Mr Murdoch’s legal team, but said he was “satisfied Crikey has advanced a reasonable explanation for the delay”.
Crikey is being sued for defamation by Mr Murdoch over an article published on its website in June last year in which it was claimed the Murdochs were “co-conspirators” during the January 6 Capitol riots, launched by supporters of former US president Donald Trump.
The article, written by political editor Bernard Keane, was taken down after Mr Murdoch sent a concerns notice to the media organisation, before being republished in August when Crikey publicly challenged him to sue.
On Tuesday, the Federal Court heard Private Media, Mr Keane and other respondents wished to update their defence to add a contextual truth defence on top of its already pleaded defences of public interest and qualified privilege.
Sue Chrysanthou SC, barrister for Mr Murdoch, said Private Media’s application to amend its defence was “absurd” and an attempt to extend the three-week trial, scheduled for October, into “something that resembles some sort of inquiry” into News Corp, publisher of The Australian.
Crikey has used the case to sell subscriptions worth $500,000, promote an online fundraising campaign and sell merchandise.
Crikey must file its defence by April 11. Mr Murdoch must file his reply by May 2.
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