A judge has slammed the ABC for a “death over dishonour” press release which incorrectly implied the Federal Court was trying to force journalists to reveal confidential sources.
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee presided over a trial between Heston Russell and the national broadcaster, on Monday ruling in the former special forces commando’s favour and awarding him $390,000 in damages.
But in a major twist, the national broadcaster refused and told the court it was going to drop the public interest defence entirely.“Commitments made and kept by journalists to sources are central to ensuring journalists retain the ongoing trust of people speaking truth to power,” ABC News Director Justin Stevens said in a statement at the time.
“Evidently, the ABC wanted to promote the message that the court was forcing its journalists to reveal their sources when, in truth, the ABC had been responsible for its inability to maintain the statutory source privilege.” Nicholas Owens SC represented the ABC at trial, but was not there for the result on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker
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