O’Brien v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2017] NSWCA 338

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: O'Brien v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2017] NSWCA 338 Hearing dates: 1 May 2017; last submissions 26 May 2017. Decision date: 18 December 2017 Before: McColl JA at [1], Macfarlan JA at [210], Leeming JA at [227] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs Catchwords: DEFAMATION – defences – fair comment at common law – where journalist plaintiff wrote articles published in The Sun Herald reporting cover-up of discovery of toxic substances at levels above health limits on land used by children as a playground – where articles illustrated by photographs of children in playground – where no tests conducted in playground area – where no discovery of such toxic substances on nearby land – where articles criticised by Media Watch programme – where plaintiff pleaded imputations of trickery and irresponsible journalism – whether Media Watch opinion based on proper material for comment

DEFAMATION – defences – honest opinion – s 31, Defamation Act 2005 (NSW)

DEFAMATION – defences – justification – whether imputations of trickery and irresponsible journalism substantially true – s 25, Defamation Act 2005 (NSW)

DEFAMATION – defences – contextual truth – whether plaintiff's reputation not further harmed by her defamatory imputations because of substantial truth of contextual imputations – s 26, Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Defamation Act 2005 (Qld) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v McBride (2001) 53 NSWLR 43; [2001] NSWCA 322 Born Brands Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (2014) 88 NSWLR 421; [2014] NSWCA 369 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd v Manock (2007) 232 CLR 245; [2007] HCA 60 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mahommed [2010] NSWCA 335; (2010) 278 ALR 232 Derry v Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode (2011) 81 NSWLR 157; [2011] NSWCA 174 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Zeccola (2015) 91 NSWLR 341; [2015] NSWCA 329 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Goldsborough v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 524 Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 90 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541; [2001] NSWCA 434 Magill v Magill (2006) 226 CLR 551; [2006] HCA 51 Mizikovsky v Queensland Television Ltd [2014] 1 Qd R 197; [2013] QCA 68 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Weatherup [2017] QCA 70 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 67 ALJR 170; [1992] HCA 66 Pervan v North Queensland Newspaper Co Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 309; [1993] HCA 64 Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited v Lamb (1982) 150 CLR 500; [1982] HCA 4 Webb v Bloch (1928) 41 CLR 331; [1928] HCA 50 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Natalie O'Brien (Appellant) Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Smark SC; C Dibb (Appellant) P W Gray SC; M A Polden (Respondent)