Federal Court judgment: Hanson-Young v Leyonhjelm [2018] FCA 1688
On 7 November 2018, the Federal Court of Australia delivered judgment for Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on an interlocutory application Senator David Leyonhjelm brought seeking summary dismissal of her action against him in defamation. Sue Chrysanthou and Barry Dean from 153 Phillip appeared for Senator Hanson-Young on the interlocutory application.
Senator Hanson-Young commenced defamation proceedings against Senator Leyonhjelm in relation to various statements he had allegedly published about her and what she allegedly said in the Senate on 28 June 2018. On his interlocutory application, Senator Leyonhjelm sought the summary dismissal of the proceedings because of parliamentary privilege. Justice White dismissed the interlocutory application and awarded Senator Hanson-Young her costs. Senator Hanson-Young’s claim in defamation will proceed to Trial.
Read the full judgment below: