MP Andrew Laming received several apologies over defamatory tweets
Politicians and journalists were among those sent letters from federal MP Andrew Laming’s legal team demanding an apology and deletion of defamatory tweets.
Politicians and journalists were among those sent letters from federal MP Andrew Laming’s legal team demanding an apology and deletion of defamatory tweets on him, but some have refused to say sorry.
Dr Laming, represented by law firm Company Giles, issued concerns notices to more than a dozen people – mostly in June this year – over social media posts that falsely claimed he “upskirted” a woman while taking a photograph of her at her Queensland workplace.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Queensland Labor MP Don Brown, Crikey editor William Bowe, Labor Senator Murray Watt, former senator Derryn Hinch, and news.com.au journalist Eliza Barr apologised to Dr Laming within weeks of him requesting them to do so. No further legal action against them was taken.
Ten’s political reporter Tegan George and journalist and author Georgie Dent each posted online apologies to Dr Laming in recent weeks – more than six months after they made comments about the member for Bowman on Twitter.
ABC Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan deleted her defamatory tweets about Dr Laming. She published a clarification, but refused to apologise to the politician and was sued for damages.
Those who haven’t apologised include The Project co-host Lisa Wilkinson and Labor Senator Kristina Keneally.
On March 29 Wilkinson tweeted: “Meanwhile upskirter @AndrewLamingMP says he wants privacy. God help us all.”
Ten Network would not comment; Senator Keneally’s office did not return calls from The Australian.
