Hun v Aljazeera International (Malaysia) SDN BHD (No 2) [2023] FCA 1546

Federal Court of Australia

Hun v Aljazeera International (Malaysia) SDN BHD (No 2) [2023] FCA 1546 File number(s): VID 767 of 2022 VID 768 of 2022

Judgment of: MCEVOY J

Date of judgment: 6 December 2023

Catchwords: COSTS – where applicant in defamation proceedings successfully resisted interlocutory applications brought by the respondents seeking orders pursuant to r 30.01 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) to determine the serious harm element of the tort as a separate matter – application also brought by the respondents in one proceeding pursuant to s 10A(4)-(6) of the Defamation Act 2005 (Vic) for the serious harm element to be determined separately and in advance of any trial in the proceeding and for the question of meanings to be determined separately and in advance of any trial – no reason the usual rule that costs follow the event should not apply – no occasion to order that costs be payable forthwith

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 20A Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 40.04, 40.13

Cases cited: Armit v Jeminex Limited (No 3) [2012] FCA 1330 Axent Holdings Pty Ltd v Compusign Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2018] FCA 6 Capic v Ford Motor Company of Australia Ltd [2019] FCA 1065 Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd v Clipso Electrical Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 37 Hun v Aljazeera International (Malaysia) SDN BHD [2023] FCA 1103 Karpik v Carnival plc [2021] FCA 1290 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Rafferty v Time 2000 West Pty Ltd (2009) 257 ALR 503; [2009] FCA 727 Taylor (liquidator), in the matter of Heading Contractors Pty Ltd (in liq) v Heading (No 2) [2021] FCA 925 Vasyli v AOL International Pty Ltd [1996] FCA 804 Watson v Kriticos (Costs Payable Forthwith) [2022] FCA 4