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Union official sues Tony Abbott for defamation
A SENIOR union official has launched defamation action against Tony Abbott, claiming the Opposition Leader branded him a thug during a media interview.
Victorian CFMEU assistant secretary John Setka has launched defamation action against Mr Abbott after the comments were made at a Master Builders Association of Victoria conference in February.
In a writ filed before the Supreme Court, it is alleged Mr Abbott insinuated Mr Setka was a thug who intimidated members of the construction industry.
It is alleged Mr Abbott had been asked a question about an MBA campaign to support the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
“Because so many of you have got to go onto sites every day and you’ve got to deal with the John Setkos of this world every day and the last thing you need is home visits from some of the gentlemen associated with some of the industrial organisations,” Mr Abbott allegedly said.
“And those home visits we know take place. We know they take place because people like Mr Setko have told us they take place,” he said.
The comments were aired on Sky News, whose parent company Australian News Channel is also being sued.
The writ claims Mr Abbott’s comments suggested Mr Setko:
WAS a thug who intimidated construction industry workers.
ENGAGED in unlawful behaviour by visiting the homes of people working in the industry for the purpose of intimidating them.
VISITED the homes of workers to make demands “that amount to extortion”.
The writ claimed Mr Setka suffered grave injury to his reputation.
It is claimed Mr Abbott did not respond to a request for retraction or apology until almost three months after lawyers for Mr Setka first issued a concerns notice.
"In doing so he denied making any defamatory statement about the plaintiff and denied that the plaintiff had suffered any damage," the writ said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/union-official-sues-tony-abbott-for-d...
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