Markets 
Weather 
A West Australian Greens MP has threatened the state’s major daily newspaper with defamation action over its coverage of protests held across the nation in opposition to a visit from Israeli President Isaac Herzog this week.
Upper House MP Sophie McNeill was the MC at the rally held in Forrest Place, in Perth’s CBD, on Monday and had publicised the event heavily on her social media accounts.
While Perth’s rally was held without incident, there were violent clashes between police and protesters in Sydney – Herzog’s first stop on his four-day tour, where he visited the site of the Bondi terrorist attack.
The following day, The West Australian published a front-page article headlined “Globalising the ignoramus”, with a sub-head reading: “Confused protesters in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne spew Jewish hatred as Israel’s President mourns over the Bondi massacre.”
The article pointed to chants of “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” – contentious phrases which are under scrutiny as states mull changes to hate speech laws – as its opening line reported protesters had “chanted for more violent acts against Jews … and the destruction of Israel”.
McNeill – a former Walkley Award-winning journalist who worked for the ABC’s flagship Four Corners program – was not named in the print edition of The West on Tuesday, but was named in an article published on the newspaper’s website on Monday.
A concerns notice sent to The West and its editor-in-chief Chris Dore claims the print articles – along with an editorial on the inside cover of the paper – carried defamatory imputations as, to the average reader, McNeill would be identified as being among the protesters reported to be calling for violent acts against Jews.
The notice, which is the first step in the process of defamation proceedings, also claims readers who saw the print stories would also have read the online article in which McNeill is named.
In the concerns notice, seen by this masthead, McNeill’s lawyer alleged the articles had jeopardised the Greens MP’s standing in her profession and had caused her significant hurt and distress.
The legal letter demands The West retract posts of the front page of the paper on its Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, publish a retraction and apology to McNeill in print and online, and pay the MP’s legal costs.
In a statement, McNeill said the newspaper’s front page was “hateful, deeply offensive and a flat out lie”.
“Our movement stands firmly against antisemitism and all forms of racism and discrimination,” she said.
“Not only was our protest peaceful in both its intention and its language, but it was attended by members of the Perth Jewish community who also spoke out against Herzog’s visit.”
Barrister Dr Michael Douglas, who is acting for McNeill, said the fourth estate played an important role in democracy, but “irresponsible coverage can undermine social cohesion and drive us further apart”.
Douglas described Australia’s media regulation as “pretty weak”.
“Defamation litigation is one of the few tools we have to encourage media responsibility,” he said.
The West Australian has been approached for comment.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
From our partners
Read the full article here
