Defamation: Serious harm and media accountability

The Archbishop of the Australian Greek Orthodox Church has successfully sued a journalist for defamation regarding four articles posted on the journalist's website.

The Court found that the articles conveyed numerous defamatory imputations. The journalist failed to establish any defence. He was ordered to pay damages of $250,000 plus aggravated damages of $50,000 and the Archbishop's legal costs. A permanent injunction was also granted against the journalist.

In issue

The main issues to be determined were:

• whether the defamatory imputations alleged by the Archbishop were carried;