The Sydney cafe siege hostages who have sold their stories to TV networks for large sums of money have the right to do so, an inquest has been told.
It comes after much debate, including comments from former Victoria premier Jeff Kennett, criticising the paid interviews from some of the victims of the Lindt Cafe siege, which unfolded in December.
The opening day of the inquest into the Martin Place siege - which ended in the deaths of barrister Katrina Dawson, cafe manager Tori Johnson and gunman Man Haron Monis - was told that the issue of paid hostage interviews had been discussed.
"The question of whether paid interviews ought to be prohibited has been publicly discussed," counsel assisting the coroner Jeremy Gormly SC said.
"At present, however, the law is that unless there is a contempt it's not automatically illegal for a witness to give a paid interview," he said on Thursday. Monis held 18 people captive in the Martin Place cafe. Survivor Marcia Mikhael has been signed by the Seven Network, and was reportedly paid more than $300,000, while 82-year-old hostage survivor John O'Brien was reportedly paid $100,000. A further six survivors have been secured by Nine, which is understood to have forked out $1 million for the combined package.
Mr Gormly says the TV interviews have not been viewed by the coronial team but they have seen the promotional material.
He says there is no likelihood of actionable contempt. "The tapes of the interviews are of course a version of the events and will be examined like any other evidence," he said. "All hostages had already been interviewed for this inquest and statements have been obtained and I think almost every one of them had been signed."
Mr Kennett last week described hostages who sold their stories as "just plain grubby". Controversial NSW upper house MP Fred Nile said funds from the TV interviews should be directed to charity. Mr Kennett said most hostage survivors would be entitled to financial compensation.
"Two innocent hostages lost their lives. I do not think it is morally right that the media pay, and any of those who were saved should profit from the attack. Just plain grubby," Mr Kennett had tweeted.
Share
