MP Andrew Laming sues ABC journo Louise Milligan for defamation

Louise Milligan is being sued for a series of tweets which he claims ‘irrevocably’ damaged his reputation.

Liberal MP Andrew Laming. Picture: Getty Images

Embattled Liberal MP Andrew Laming has launched defamation action against ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan for a series of tweets which he claims “irrevocably” damaged his “personal and professional reputation”.

The ABC have confirmed they will cover Milligan’s legal bill, with the Four Corners reporter engaging Sydney-based lawyers Bird and Bird to represent her.

Dr Laming, who will not contest the next election after reports emerged of his poor behaviour toward women, has already obtained apologies from several political figures and journalists including former Victorian senator Derryn Hinch and Labor senator Murray Watt.

Louise Milligan. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Federal Court documents lodged on Sunday claim Milligan made a series of tweets on March 28 relating to Mr Laming after 29-year-old Crystal White accused him of taking a photo of her while she was bent over at a Brisbane landscaping business in 2019, which showed her underwear beneath her shorts.

Dr Laming denied taking the photo under a woman’s skirt and claimed it was a “completely dignified” picture of a woman in her workplace “kneeling in an awkward position, and filling a fridge with an impossible amount of stock, which clearly wasn’t going to fit in the fridge”.

Queensland Police later cleared him over the allegations.

Milligan, the documents say, deleted the posts on June 4 but has not offered an apology to Mr Laming.

“Question: If Andrew Laming (who BTW was one of the names volunteered to me in the off the record conversations with women staffers and politicians in research for inside the Canberra Bubble) is leaving at the next election because of a series of incidents he admits to, why not now,” one post read.

Mr Laming is being represented by Rebekah Giles, the same lawyer who represented former attorney-general Christian Porter in his defamation action against the broadcaster.

In a statement, Ms Giles said: “Free speech in discussing political matters is an important part of a democratic society and robust debate is necessary in that context.

“However, there is a vast difference between the vigorous exchange of views and the publication of false accusations of criminal conduct without any attempt to check the allegations or behave reasonably and responsibly before disseminating them.”

In court documents, Dr Laming claims he has “been gravely injured in his character and reputation, and has suffered substantial hurt, distress and embarrassment and has and will continue to suffer loss and damage”.

The documents claim this pain had been aggravated as Milligan’s tweets were “sensational, accusatory” and had a “spiteful tone”.

A number of other politicians and journalists were recently issued with legal letters from Company Giles relating to tweets concerning Dr Laming.

Those included Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Victorian Labor MP Paul Edbrooke, Qld Labor MP Don Brown, Crikey editor William Bowe, news.com.au journalist Eliza Barr and website The Shot.