Danna Vale (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I refer to an article in the Sunday Telegraph of 21 May on pages 1 and 4. Page 1 had a caption under my photograph which read ‘UNBELIEVABLE: Federal MP Danna Vale, caught speeding past a Sydney school, fights the paltry $75 fine’. The heading on page 4 read ‘MP caught speeding will fight fine’.

Mr Speaker, I wish to correct a number of factually incorrect statements in this article. No. 1, the article on pages 1 and 4 states that I am fighting the $75 fine. This is completely incorrect. The matter was finalised over seven weeks ago. My cheque in payment of this fine was dated 3 April and was posted very soon thereafter.

No. 2, on page 4 the article states that the incident occurred in Gymea, where, tragically, a little eight-year-old girl was killed. It later mentions Gymea Bay Road. This is incorrect with regard to my incident. The incident for which I incurred the fine occurred on President Avenue, travelling west, near Koorabel Avenue. President Avenue is a major artery of Sutherland shire, and on President Avenue there are no entrances to the school. The school is fenced off from President Avenue by a very high steel fence.

No. 3, I consider this article not only to contain deliberate distortions and falsification of the facts; I consider it to be defamatory. It is the latest salvo of personal vilification against me by the Telegraph, and I have placed this matter in the hands of my lawyers.

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