Former federal Liberal politician Sophie Mirabella has been awarded $175,000 in damages after being defamed by a regional Victorian newspaper.
Ms Mirabella successfully sued the weekly newspaper The Benalla Ensign and its editor Libby Price this month, over an article that claimed the former MP had pushed another politician out of the way during a photo opportunity.
The 49-year-old appeared in the County Court in Melbourne on Wednesday, when Judge Michael Macnamara ruled she should be awarded $175,000 in damages over the April 2016 article.
The maximum amount that may be awarded for non-economic loss linked to Victorian defamation is $389,500.
Earlier this month, a six-person jury found in favour of Ms Mirabella, after a trial at Wangaratta.
Former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella addresses the media outside the Victorian County Court, Wednesday, 16 May, 2018. Source: AAP
Ms Mirabella told the five-day trial the April 2016 article had a devastating personal impact.
It was published before a federal election when she had hoped to win back the seat of Indi from incumbent Cathy McGowan.
The article, titled Awkward Encounter, claimed Ms Mirabella had pushed Ms McGowan out of the way during a photo opportunity.
Months later, the newspaper admitted the push did not occur and apologised, but by then the election had passed and Ms Mirabella said the damage to her character had been done.
Ms Mirabella's barrister, Georgina Schoff QC, had argued that significant damages were appropriate due to the hurt caused by the article.
Costs will be determined next Thursday.
