YouTube activist cited for shock departure

Outgoing NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s defamation case against YouTube activist Jordan Shanks has emerged as a major influence on his decision to resign.

Jordan Shanks. Picture: Facebook

Outgoing NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s defamation case against YouTube activist Jordan Shanks has emerged as a major influence on his decision to resign from parliament, days after ­Gladys Berejiklian’s shock departure.

After 10 years in politics, Mr Barilaro said alleged “vile and racist” attacks from the 32-year-old political commentator, known online as Friendlyjordies, had taken a toll on his personal life.

He planned to move forward with the defamation case away from public scrutiny.

“It’s unbelievable I have to ­defend myself from the attacks in a social media setting by individuals and a trillion-dollar company like Google,” he said on Monday.

“That in itself, can I say, was very difficult this year, and to be able to defend myself and continue with that case, I prefer to do it not in the public eye.

“That has been a big reason for the announcement, along with the opportunity … that maybe now is the ­refresh.”

Mr Barilaro launched a defamation case against Mr Shanks in May, alleging the YouTuber incorrectly portrayed him during two videos titled “Bruz” and ­“Secret Dictatorship” uploaded in September and October last year.

Mr Barilaro’s lawyers have ­argued that the series of videos portrayed him as a “corrupt conman” and accused the Nationals leader of being a “dangerously incompetent” man who “committed perjury” on nine occasions.

In the statement of claim filed to the federal court, they accused Mr Shanks of “waging a smear campaign” against Mr Barilaro by suggesting he was a “fat, decadent conman” who “corruptly gave $3.3m to a beef company” and “corruptly voted against a royal commission into water theft”.

Mr Barilaro is also suing ­Google, the owner of YouTube, for failing to remove the videos despite requests from his lawyers.

Mr Shanks has relied on a truth defence, supported by an honest opinion defence, based on comments the Deputy Premier made in May 2020 when he ­described himself as “Pork-­Barilaro”.

Tensions between Mr Barilaro and Mr Shanks escalated further in June this year when a 21-year-old producer for the YouTuber was charged with allegedly stalking and intimidating the Deputy Premier.

Detectives from NSW police arrested Kristo Langker at his family home and charged him with two offences of “stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm”.

Shortly after Mr Barilaro’s resignation on Monday morning, Mr Shanks moved quickly to reignite his claims, accusing the Deputy Premier of using his final press conference to “defame (Mr Shanks) as a racist”.

“That in itself is a vile and ­offensive accusation about me that anyone following these issues can see straight through,” Mr Shanks said in a statement.

“He dodged, weaved and ­bristled when asked about the substantive and serious alle­gations our videos have exposed.

“After a decade of proudly ­advancing his interests and blaming other people for his mistakes, what a fitting way to go out.

“He may be able to dodge questions in a press conference but I doubt he’ll be able to do it in a courtroom.”

Mr Barilaro’s resignation will spark a third by-election for the government, after Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister ­Andrew Constance also both quit.