A class action has been launched against Blue Sky, its directors and auditors in the Federal Court, alleging that investors were misled before its value plummeted. The Brisbane-based investment fir
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Two leading barristers warned against Sue Chrysanthou working for Christian Porter in his defamation action against the ABC, which has now resulted in legal action attempting to remove her from representing the former Attorney-General.
Defamation barrister Matthew Richardson, a friend of Ms Chrysanthou, advised her to return the brief from Mr Porter because she had attended a meeting with Jo Dyer, a friend of the woman who accused Mr Porter of raping her in 1988, and allegedly obtained confidential information.
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, arrives at the Federal Court on Monday.Â
Kate Geraghty
Separately, Nicholas Owens, SC, was engaged by a solicitor acting for Ms Dyer and formed an opinion that she had a conflict.
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Christian Porterâs defamation case against the ABC has been delayed until a second action seeking to stop top defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, for acting for him is resolved.
Federal Court Justice Jayne Jagot adjourned case management for the defamation action until May 26, noting the date could be changed if the representation matter is not resolved.
In a separate court, a judge set May 24-26 as dates for that matter to be heard.
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, has been acting for Christian Porter in his defamation case against the ABC.Â
AAP
Ms Chrysanthou previously advised Jo Dyer, a friend of the woman who accused Mr Porter of rape, in an unrelated matter. Ms Dyer applied to the Federal Court on Wednesday to stop Ms Chrysanthou from acting for Mr Porter, alleging a conflict of interest.
Note: the following story mentions sexual assault.
After weeks of vigorously resisting calls for an independent inquiry into a historical rape allegation, Attorney-General Christian Porter threw a curve ball yesterday when he filed a defamation action against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan.
If Porter’s claim proceeds to trial (and that’s a big if), it could act something like an inquiry putting the deceased victim’s friends and confidants on the stand and scrutinising the details behind her complaint in open court.
It means the Porter affair may not go away for many years.
But the attorney-general has a star-studded legal team and Australia’s traditionally plaintiff-friendly defamation law on side. For now, it’s the ABC that is playing catch-up.
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Attorney-General Christian Porter has sent a clear message he is not messing about in a defamation action against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and journalist Louise Milligan, appointing a top-tier legal team.
Sydney barristers Bret Walker, SC, and Sue Chrysanthou, SC, will act as counsel for Australiaâs first law officer in the Federal Court, while reputation specialist Rebekah Giles, of Company Giles, will act as his solicitor.
Mr Porter is suing the ABC for airing a historic rape allegation against him.
Bret Walker is widely considered in legal circles to be one of Australiaâs best barristers.Â
Penny Bradfield