The ABC rejected an offer from Christian Porter to settle his defamation case weeks before the minister agreed to enter mediation, Guardian Australia can reveal. At his press conference, Porter said the ABC had approached his lawyers “last Friday” for “an urgent mediation”. But prior to that, lawyers for Porter had offered to settle the case if the ABC agreed to pay a financial settlement. “The suggestion is not only an insult to Ms Milligan but also to Ms Dyer’s intelligence and integrity,” the public broadcaster said. “Yesterday Mr Porter alleged that, after ‘coaching’ from Ms Milligan, I had destroyed important communications that may have had a bearing on his now discontinued action against Ms Milligan and the ABC.

Source: The Guardian June 01, 2021 17:26 UTC