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Sophie Mirabella sues newspaper over claim she shoved Cathy McGowan Sophie Mirabella sues newspaper over claim she shoved Cathy McGowan
(35 minutes later)
The former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella is suing a regional Victorian newspaper, which she says defamed her and seriously injured her reputation during the 2016 federal election.The former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella is suing a regional Victorian newspaper, which she says defamed her and seriously injured her reputation during the 2016 federal election.
Mirabella is suing the weekly newspaper the Benalla Ensign and its editor, Libby Price, in the Victoria county court over an April 2016 article about an encounter with the independent MP for Indi, Cathy McGowan.Mirabella is suing the weekly newspaper the Benalla Ensign and its editor, Libby Price, in the Victoria county court over an April 2016 article about an encounter with the independent MP for Indi, Cathy McGowan.
Mirabella, who lost the seat to McGowan in 2013, says the article is defamatory because it said “Mirabella had physically pushed Cathy Magowan (sic) out of the way of a photograph for her own political reasons”, according to a writ filed on 19 April.Mirabella, who lost the seat to McGowan in 2013, says the article is defamatory because it said “Mirabella had physically pushed Cathy Magowan (sic) out of the way of a photograph for her own political reasons”, according to a writ filed on 19 April.
The writ also describes Mirabella as a well-known public figure whose 2013 election loss and 2016 candidacy attracted increased media coverage.
Her defeat and attempt to win back the seat of Indi were “matters which attracted local and national media coverage beyond which would ordinarily be expected for a sitting or prospective member of parliament”.
“Ms Mirabella has been seriously injured in her feelings, her career and in her reputation both personally, as a politically active participant in the public arena and in her role within the community of north-east Victoria,” the writ said.“Ms Mirabella has been seriously injured in her feelings, her career and in her reputation both personally, as a politically active participant in the public arena and in her role within the community of north-east Victoria,” the writ said.
The story was published in print and online by the Ensign and came amid the 2016 election campaign, in which Mirabella was attempting to win back the seat from McGowan.The story was published in print and online by the Ensign and came amid the 2016 election campaign, in which Mirabella was attempting to win back the seat from McGowan.
Mirabella is seeking aggravated damages over the story, claiming its publishers were “recklessly indifferent” to the truth.Mirabella is seeking aggravated damages over the story, claiming its publishers were “recklessly indifferent” to the truth.
Mirabella alleges in court documents that the Benalla Ensign and Price did not make adequate inquiries about the story and failed to contact her or other witnesses who were present at the event being described.
The newspaper “instead relied solely on the unsubstantiated account of one or more persons the defendant knew to be active supporters of McGowan”.
Mirabella alleges in court documents the newspaper knew the pushing allegations would be damaging to her reputation and election campaign but they published the “unsubstantiated” story anyway.
“It is to be inferred that they did so with the intention of unjustifiably and improperly hurting Mirabella’s political campaign”, the statement of claim says.
The former Indi member says that, a day after the article was published on 20 April 2016, her office confirmed to other media outlets no physical contact had taken place. But the newspaper only acknowledged their “mistake” and withdrew the allegations in October 2016, well after the federal election, Mirabella says in her writ.
Price is a former ABC journalist who formerly hosted the Victorian edition of The Country Hour and now edits the independent regional paper, which has a circulation of about 4,000.Price is a former ABC journalist who formerly hosted the Victorian edition of The Country Hour and now edits the independent regional paper, which has a circulation of about 4,000.
During the 2016 campaign, Mirabella also courted controversy over a claim that she had secured $10m in hospital funding for her Victorian seat but Indi missed out on the money because it elected McGowan in 2013.During the 2016 campaign, Mirabella also courted controversy over a claim that she had secured $10m in hospital funding for her Victorian seat but Indi missed out on the money because it elected McGowan in 2013.
Just months after her 2016 election defeat, Mirabella was appointed to a senior position in Gina Rinehart’s resources company, Hancock Prospecting.Just months after her 2016 election defeat, Mirabella was appointed to a senior position in Gina Rinehart’s resources company, Hancock Prospecting.