Skirting the truth: Nine apologises to Laming over lewd photo claim
Nine has made a public apology for defaming former politician Andrew Laming by falsely claiming he took a lewd upskirt photograph of a waitress.
Former federal MP Dr Andrew Laming arrives at the The Federal Court. In settling a defamation case by Dr Andrew Laming, Nine has made a public apology for defaming the former politician by falsely reporting he took a lewd photo. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Laming sued over the serious allegations in a 9News report on March 27, 2021 that he photographed waitress Crystal White’s buttocks.
The broadcaster’s apology was read by Laming’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC during a brief hearing in the Federal Court on Tuesday.
“9News has now seen material which indicated that the photograph Dr Laming took was not lewd in nature,” the publisher said.
“9News unreservedly withdraws those allegations about Dr Laming and apologises to him and his family for the hurt and harm caused by the report.”
The exact dollar amount paid to Laming is not known as the settlement remains confidential. Justice Robert Bromwich did not order that Nine pay the former federal Liberal MP’s legal costs of the dispute however.
