Politics

Former Liberal MP Andrew Laming has been hit with a $40,000 fine for failing to disclose that he was behind three politically motivated Facebook posts in 2018 and 2019.

The former deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party will be required to give evidence in person in a defamation case against party leader John Pesutto by expelled party member Moira Deeming, with a judge noting the importance of cross-examination “chemistry” where credibility is at issue.

Victorian Liberal party leader John Pesutto’s credit will be at issue in defamation proceedings brought against him by expelled party member Moira Deeming, who alleges she was “piled upon” during a party meeting over an anti-trans rally she attended.

An environmental group has argued a fracking project in the Northern Territory was approved before its risks were adequately scrutinized, taking advantage of changes in the law that allow “interested persons” to seek administrative review of government decisions.

Senator Linda Reynolds has admitted she gave incorrect evidence at Bruce Lehrmann’s criminal trial concerning the day he allegedly raped Brittany Higgins, saying it was her “best recollection” at the time. 

Senator Linda Reynolds has asked the court for leave to issue a subpoena to HWL Ebsworth’s chief executive partner for correspondence leading up to the Commonwealth’s $2.4 million settlement with Brittany Higgins over the government’s handling of her rape allegations. 

Senator Linda Reynolds has faced cross-examination over her messages with accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann’s senior counsel ahead of his criminal trial, with the court hearing the barrister told her “s**t is going to get real soon” and “karma comes to those who wait”. 

A court has granted Rio Tinto unit Energy Resources Australia an interim stay to allow it to contest the government’s decision not to renew its lease for the Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory.

Senator Linda Reynolds has admitted that she leaked a confidential letter from the Commonwealth’s solicitors to a reporter at The Australian concerning Brittany Higgins’ claims about the handling of her rape allegations, calling the letter’s confidentiality a “legal nicety” that she didn’t understand.

Senator Linda Reynolds has given evidence about the fallout of media reporting about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations, saying she experienced health problems from the stress and felt she could not defend herself in the public eye since it was a criminal matter.