by Chris Merritt | May 2, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Commentary, Freedom of Speech, Media Article
The legend of King Canute has a lesson for lawmakers that must have escaped the attention of the geniuses who insisted on giving global reach to the Online Safety Act. Canute knew it was ludicrous to command the tides but he dragged his throne down to the beach and...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 25, 2024 | 18C, Chris Merritt, Freedom of Speech, Media Article
The fight between Anthony Albanese and Elon Musk is not merely about whether Australians should be permitted to see a shocking video of a bishop being stabbed. The outcome of this dispute will help determine a much bigger issue: do we want the federal government to be...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 19, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Commentary, ICAC, Media Article, Model Litigant
In November last year, Paul Brereton explained how his National Anti-Corruption Commission decides which matters to pursue. Given what has come to light about the Albanese government’s $2.4m settlement with Brittany Higgins, those remarks by the NACC commissioner...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 15, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Defamation, Media Article
There is now a real danger society will learn the wrong lessons from Network Ten’s resounding defamation win against Bruce Lehrmann – a man who stands condemned as a rapist.Mr Lehrmann is the author of his own ruin.He launched this civil case knowing there was a risk...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 11, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Human Rights, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
The revolt over proposed restrictions on religious schools is close to uniform among the nation’s peak religious leaders. But that does not mean the threat to religious freedom is close to defeat. A parliamentary committee has been working on a second plan that could...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 5, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Defamation, Media Article
Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case is shaping up as something far more important: it could be a turning point in the way the media and the courts deal with breaches of confidence. And this is all due to an unlikely change agent: former Seven network producer Taylor...
