Defamation case against Jones to continue

A defamation case against broadcaster Alan Jones is set to continue after being in heard in court.

Alan Jones

Radio broadcaster Alan Jones (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

Former NSW deputy premier Andrew Stoner's defamation case against broadcaster Alan Jones is set to continue following a brief court hearing.

Justice Lucy McCallum ruled in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday that the majority of the defamatory imputations claimed by Mr Stoner would be allowed to be used to pursue Mr Jones.

The suit was launched after the broadcaster claimed Mr Stoner was "gutless", favoured the mining industry's interests and did Nathan Tinkler's bidding in return for political donations, among other accusations.

The action has also been launched against Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and relates to interviews on Mr Jones' show on Sydney radio station 2GB in June and August last year.

During the course of several monologues against controversial coal seam gas programs, Mr Jones said Mr Stoner had told a National Party conference in Canberra that protesters were "professional bludgers", the statement of claim says.

Mr Jones also accused the government of preparing to "backflip" on a decision to suspend a drilling licence at Bentley, near Lismore, and said Mr Stoner corruptly preferred the interest of the mining industry over the community.

While many of the comments made by Mr Jones were allowed to be used against him in the courts, Justice Lucy McCallum struck out several others.


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Source: AAP


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