Senior Labor MP must pay damages to LNP rival over defamatory material
Chief government whip Don Brown will pay damages over a defamatory publication made about an LNP candidate who ran against him in the 2020 Queensland election.
Former Capalaba LNP candidate Bev Walters is seen outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Walters has succeeded in her defamation proceedings against Don Brown, who is the MP for Capalaba. (AAP Image/Darren England)
The matter filed by Bev Walters in the Brisbane Supreme Court three years ago was due to go to trial next week.
Barristers for Capalaba MP Mr Brown and Ms Walters told Justice Susan Brown on Thursday they had agreed on a proposal to end proceedings.
The parties were satisfied there was a defamatory publication given the agreement provided for judgment against Mr Brown, Justice Brown said.
She added that it was to the credit of experienced legal representatives on both sides that a resolution had sensibly been reached without the case going to trial.
Justice Brown said the damages to be paid were strictly speaking within the discretion of the court to ensure there is an appropriate and rational relationship between the harm sustained by Ms Walters and the damages awarded.
She agreed to make orders as agreed by both sides, saying the outcome addressed the acceptance of the fact there had been a defamatory publication that caused some harm to Ms Walters.
The case set down for four days in the Brisbane Supreme Court was due to start on Monday.
