ARTICLE · 01 MARCH 2022

Power and Influence: Chau v Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Coleman Greig Lawyers

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Plaintiff was awarded damages for defamatory publications.

AustraliaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration

Isabella Krstanovski

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In the Federal Court case of Chau v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2021] FCA 44, Chinese-Australian business leader and philanthropist, Dr Chau Chak Wing ('Dr Chau'), was awarded $590,000 in damages caused by defamatory publications by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on a Four Corners program titled 'Power and Influence'. The respondents in this case also included Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd and journalist, Nick McKenzie.

Facts

On 5 June 2017, the ABC broadcasted a program titled 'Power and Influence' on their investigative journalism program, Four Corners. This episode addressed spying, clandestine activities, the interference of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia and included direct references to Dr Chau. The program was broadcasted in multiple timeslots and made available online. It was viewed by around 1.1 million people.

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