Industry Minister Christian Porter on Monday dropped his defamation action against the ABC over its reporting of a historical rape allegation against him,but the settlement deal was followed by anexchange of barbs between the parties as they disputed the details.Mr Porter has always strenuously denied the allegations.
No date has been set for the hearing,but it is expected to occur next week.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young,deputy chair of Senate’s communications committee,said it was “essential the Australian people know how much this has cost the taxpayer and what has really gone on”.
Mr Anderson gave evidence before Senate estimates last week,days before the settlement was reached in the Porter matter. Under the rules of the Senate,an additional hearing must be scheduled if three members of a Senate committee write to the chair requesting one.
Senator Hanson Young and Labor senators Nita Green and Catryna Blyk co-signed a letter to the chair of the communications committee,Liberal senator David Fawcett,on Tuesday requesting another hearing for “further evidence from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation”.
Mr Porter sought to claim victory on Monday as he withdrew his defamation action against the ABC without a damages payout.Speaking outside the Federal Court in Sydney after the settlement was reached,Mr Porter declared it was “a humiliating backdown by the ABC” and said the broadcaster had been forced to say “they regret the outcome of the article”. He said the deal had been reached after the ABC had requested to enter mediation.