Fred Nile sued over emails about alleged ‘siege’ at Christian Democrats headquarters

Disaffected Christian Democrats are suing Reverend Fred Nile for defamation over accusations of a siege at the party’s former headquarters.

Reverend Fred Nile is being sued for defamation over furious emails related to an ongoing schism in the Christian Democratic Party.

EXCLUSIVE

A group of disaffected Christian Democrats are suing Reverend Fred Nile for defamation over two furious emails accusing them of staging a siege at the party’s former headquarters last year.

The emails, revealed in court documents, paint a colourful picture of what unfolded at the Christian Democratic Party’s Parramatta office in December, including accusations one man stole eight computers and another screeched “I am the highest authority!” at a removalist.

The lawsuit is a fresh front in an extraordinary schism playing out between Mr Nile – the 86-year-old party figurehead and longtime NSW upper house member – and a renegade group who disagree with how the party is being run.

Furious emails signed off by Reverend Fred Nile are at the centre of a defamation case.

A caretaker board was installed last year after former treasurer Charles Knox alleged in the NSW Supreme Court Mr Nile and his wife had misused party funds to the tune of $100,000, which they have consistently and strongly denied.

A new board was appointed at an annual general meeting on November 28, but some members of the caretaker board, including Mr Knox, believe the board was elected illegitimately.

Tensions boiled over in December when members of the caretaker board changed the locks at the party’s Parramatta office, barring Mr Nile and state manager Annie Wright from the premises and preventing a planned move to Willoughby.

Police were called as the warring groups each insisted they were the legitimate board.

In the wake of the debacle two furious emails were fired off.

Those missives are now at the centre of a defamation case filed in the Federal Court in February by Mr Knox, Graeme Collins, Milton Caine, Karl Schubert and Milan Maksimovic against Mr Nile and the CDP.

Former Christian Democratic Party treasurer Charles Knox is suing Fred Nile for defamation.

Their statement of claim alleges Mr Nile emailed members at 3.47pm on New Year’s Eve saying he was “appalled and shocked” at the “flagrant lies” suggesting the November 28 AGM was invalid.

“We will not bow to a handful of unethical rebels twisting the law for their own selfish ends,” the email reads.

“We will have our day in court … which will prove we have been victims of outlandish attempts to overthrow the party and the Lord will vindicate us!”

A second email signed off by Mr Nile and sent on January 7 laid out the events of the alleged “siege” at the Wentworth Street head office between December 19 and 30.

It states Mr Knox, Mr Schubert and Mr Maksimovic “broke into the CDP offices” by prying open and damaging the fire escape door, and used security guards to stop board members from entering.

The email goes on to say the three men gave “falsified” board minutes to police, and Mr Knox convinced officers Ms Wright was suspended, telling her that if she attended the office “police would arrest her”.

“Charles Knox visited Westpac Parramatta and convinced the bank manager with his falsified ‘caretaker board minutes’ that he was the board treasurer and to be added to the CDP financials. They added his name. This is a criminal offence,” the email reads.

It was not until December 30 that Mr Nile, his wife Silvana Nero, Ms Wright and a removalist “took back control” armed with Supreme Court orders that they be given access.

On that day, the email reads, Mr Knox and Mr Maksimovic threatened them with arrest and Mr Knox “screeched out over the phone to the removalist ‘I am the highest authority!’”.

“After the removalist took our main load of office furniture Karl Schubert returned and stole our eight computers,” it reads.

Mr Knox, Mr Schubert and Mr Maksimovic hotly contest this version of events and allege the emails defamed them as “thugs that engaged in standover tactics”, “lawless vandals and trespassers” and “serious criminals”, among other things.

Mr Knox also claims he has been unfairly sullied as a “fraudster” and a “conman”, while Mr Schubert says he was falsely painted as a thief.

Mr Nile told NCA NewsWire: “There have been no statements made that are defamatory or untrue. We look forward to discussing these matters at a later date.”

Former Christian Democrats candidate Annie Wright was locked out of the party’s head office in December. Picture: Adam Yip

NSW Police confirmed officers had been called to the premises between December 21 and 30 and that the investigation had since ceased with no charges laid.

Mr Caine, who says he was defamed in the first email, told NCA NewsWire he was involved in the situation because he felt it was important to stand up against authority if you believe they are doing wrong.

“They believe I’m trying to take over the party. But I’m not,” Mr Caine said. “I’m a members person. I believe in democracy and I believe in Christian values.

“The allegation that there’s a siege is a load of rubbish.”

Mr Maksimovic said the email came as a “great surprise” and, having known Mr Nile for many years, he wasn’t convinced the firebrand politician had actually sent it.

“It is unfortunately a very messy and complex situation and I am very sad that things have come to this,” he said.

The five men are seeking damages and costs.

According to court documents, they are also seeking exemplary damages — which cannot be awarded in defamation cases in Australia — partly on the basis Mr Nile sought to rely on an “ecclesiastical prerogative” to try and justify his “extremist beliefs”.

The Supreme Court proceedings will be back before a judge later this month. A CDP spokesperson said: “The allegations of misappropriation of funds has been proven to be false and Reverend Nile has strongly rebuffed it from the beginning.”

The defamation case will first land before Federal Court Justice Stephen Rares in April.

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