Assisted by Elisabeth Krstanovski
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.
