Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro settles defamation case with Jordan Shanks

YouTuber FriendlyJordies ‘will not have to pay a cent’ in damages to the former NSW deputy premier after apologising to him in court.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has settled defamation proceedings against YouTuber Jordan Shanks, who “will not be paying a cent” in damages over videos posted online.

The Federal Court was told on Friday that Mr Barilaro would discontinue the case after the parties agreed to settle, with Mr Shanks’s lawyers revealing he would not be paying damages.

Known more widely as FriendlyJordies, Mr Shanks was sued over two videos posted to YouTube, including one titled “Bruz” in which he referred to the politician as a “wog c--t” and “greasy” and suggested he was involved in corruption.

The videos gained more than one million views on the comedian-cum-journalist’s popular page.

FriendlyJordies, real name Jordan Shanks, has apologised for the videos. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

But the court was told that Mr Shanks now accepted the videos caused hurt to the former state Nationals leader and apologised in a statement read out by his barrister.

“Freedom of expression for political communication is important, but Mr Shanks accepts that some of the videos he posted were offensive to Mr Barilaro,” barrister Matthew Collins QC said.

“Mr Shanks understands that Mr Barilaro has been hurt and apologises to him for that hurt.”

Mr Barilaro, who is of Italian descent, had sued for defamation, claiming he was the victim of a “vile, racist attack” and painted as a “corrupt conman”.

In a statement posted to twitter, Mr Barilaro welcomed the outcome: “I am pleased that my defamation claims against Jordan Shanks have settled.

“I am grateful for and accept Mr Shanks’s apology to me and trust that we can now each move on with our lives.

“Regrettably, my defamation claims against Google have not settled and will be determined by the Federal Court in March next year.”

John Barilaro claimed the videos caused him personal hurt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

Justice Steven Rares congratulated the parties and ordered that no court costs be paid, as consented to by both sides.

Mr Shanks’s lawyer Mark Davis in a statement said his client would not be paying any damages and “not one video will be taken down”.

The statement said Mr Shanks would cease selling merchandise featuring Mr Barilaro, who had recently announced his retirement from politics.

Mr Shanks will pay court costs of $100,000 associated with two motions heard by the court earlier this year regarding failed applications for a jury trial and for Mr Barilaro’s parliamentary privilege to be waived.

Mr Barilaro’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC told court that her client’s case against Google, the publisher of YouTube, remained on foot as the global tech giant had not produced key data required by his lawyers.

Mr Shanks with his producer Kristo Langker. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Ms Chrysanthou said it appeared the high-powered company’s legal team had been “sitting on its hands” and failed to produce the extent of publication for Mr Shanks’s videos as requested.

“Those figures have never eventuated and we have no idea when we’re going to get them,” she said.

Google’s barrister Lyndelle Barnett asked for an extension to December for the documents to be produced, saying the US-based company’s lawyers had major holidays such as Thanksgiving on the horizon.

Justice Rares, however, ordered they file the documents by November 19, noting it was a multibillion-dollar organisation with extensive resources.

Mr Shanks’s producer Kristo Langker remains before the courts on criminal charges related to the alleged stalking of Mr Barilaro.