SA: Defamation case against SA premier stays alive

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
SA: Defamation case against SA premier stays alive

A defamation case against South Australian Premier JOHN OLSEN can proceed as the Full
Court of the Supreme Court has decided against blocking the action.

The five-member bench ruled 3-2 against a defence bid to stay the proceedings, after
counsel for the premier argued that Commonwealth law would prevent him mounting a proper
case.

The argument was that a court could not examine statements made in parliament and therefore
the premier might be prevented from proving his case.

However, the court has disagreed, but left it open to the trial judge to grant a stay
after assessing the evidence to be presented by both sides in the action instigated in
1997 by Opposition Leader MIKE RANN.

Mr RANN is suing the premier for defamation for calling him a liar at a press conference.

That followed comments from Mr RANN before a federal parliamentary committee in which
the opposition leader named Mr OLSEN as the source of leaks to the Labor Party.

AAP RTV tjd/jn

KEYWORD: RANN (ADELAIDE)

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