Aboriginal Community Sues Media for Defamation

An aboriginal community is taking the Seven West Media to court for defamation over a controversial breakfast show about the Stolen Generations. The lawsuit alleges that the Sunrise program defamed 15 applicants by playing slightly blurred background footage of them during a controversial panel discussion.

Samantha Armytage, a TV presenter had introduced the 'Hot Topics' segment by incorrectly stating that Aboriginal children at 'risk of rape, assault and neglect' could not be adopted by white families. Prue MacSween, a Conservative commentator suggested they should be taken from their families 'just like the first Stolen Generation'. The segment which aired on March 13 of 2018 led to protests outside the show's studio in Sydney. The offensive comments were found to be in breach of television codes of practice.

Lawyers of the Yongu group said their clients remained readily identifiable and implied they had abused, assaulted or neglected children. "Our clients are extremely unhappy with being recklessly depicted in such a negative manner," said Peter O'Brien principal solicitor of O'Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors. "The plaintiffs assert that the segment about child sexual abuse and the forced removal of children while showing identifiable images of innocent people is defamatory."