Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition (Social and Community Affairs)) Share this | Hansard source

I ask a supplementary question, Mr President. I thank the minister for her answer. Is the minister aware that the retailer David Jones is suing the Australia Institute because the institute criticised its use of children in company advertisements? Does the minister think it is appropriate for big business to use the Trade Practices Act to circumvent state laws preventing companies from suing for defamation? Isn’t this just an attempt to bully not-for-profit researchers into silence on an issue of widespread public concern? When will the government act to stop this abuse of the legal system?