A snarky tweet about an old photo of Christian Porter, commentator Peter van Onselen and prominent Dr Nick Coatsworth has sparked a flurry of legal letters and a public war of words.
The three ex-University of Western Australia buddies were pictured some 20 years ago with friends and two women, including Professor van Onselen’s now-wife, Ainslie.
Former attorney general Mr Porter, 51, resigned from the government in September over his defamation lawsuit against the ABC after he identified himself as the man accused of an historic rape.
Ten’s political editor Van Onselen, 45, came under fire at the time for supporting long-time friend Mr Porter – who introduced PvO to his wife – during the controversy.
When the vintage image was posted on Twitter two weeks ago, a snarky nine-word reply by University of New South Wales Professor Gemma Carey is understood to have sparked at least two legal threats.
A bitter row over an old pic of Peter van Onselen, Christian Porter and Dr Nick Coatsworth, seen here, has sparked a $200,000 legal fight backed by sex abuse survivor Grace Tame
When the vintage pic was posted on Twitter two weeks ago, a snarky nine-word reply by Professor Gemma Carey (pictured) sparked legal threats
She was sent concerns notices – which often precede defamation actions – on behalf of Mr Porter and Professor van Onselen.
Former Australian deputy chief medical officer Dr Coatsworth, 43, was not part of the legal action.
The notices all arrived in the same email from the same high-profile lawyer, Rebekah Giles, who has previously represented Mr Porter, as well as Brittany Higgins and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Pregnant academic Prof Carey has now apologised online to Mr Porter and Professor van Onselen for her reply about the photograph.
‘On 24th October 2021, I commented on a photograph of Peter van Onselen when he was at university with others & that comment was completely inappropriate & highly offensive and I should never have published it.
She was sent concerns notices – which often precede defamation actions – on behalf of Mr Porter (left), Professor van Onselen (right) and also Queensland MP Andrew Laming
Former Australian deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth, 43, (pictured) was not part of the legal action
‘It has now been deleted and I unconditionally withdraw my comment and apologise to Mr van Onselen for the hurt caused to him and his wife by my conduct.’
Mr Porter received an almost identical reply.
She has also issued an apology to backbench Liberal MP Andrew Laming, 55, for earlier comments she made about him over a flight she once shared with him.
But despite the apologies and deleting the tweets, supporters fear defamation lawsuits will follow and have set up a fighting fund, with Australian of the Year Ms Tame making the first donation of $2500.
Australian of the Year Grace Tame (pictured) made the first donation of $2500 to a fighting fund set up to defend against any possible defamation action, which has now surged past $200,000
It has since soared past the $200,000 mark within days of the GoFundMe’s launch.
‘The power imbalance between three of Australia’s most powerful men and a disabled expectant mother—who’s also a survivor of grooming and child sexual abuse—is extreme,’ posted Ms Tame, 26, in defence of Professor Carey.
‘She had tweeted about all three men (including Laming), and published apologies to them following the legal threats.
She added: ‘The abuse of defamation law doesn’t just shut down debate.’
Professor Gemma Carey (pictured) says she is now taking a Twitter break in the wake of the controversy
The email sent to Professor Carey with the legal action notices from the same lawyer.
Professor van Onselen has since insisted he was not part of a co-ordinated strike on Professor Carey.
And he warned that, despite the swelling fighting fund, any attempt to defend legal action over the comments would be futile.
‘I thought about setting up a go fund me page to upgrade my boat…but then I realised I’ve already got one with over $125k in it and counting!’ he crowed on Twitter.
‘Thanks to everyone donating
‘It’s the reality were this to become something it never needed to be. A fund to fight an action where the person has already apologised and admitted wrong doing.
The nine word tweet, which cannot be republished for legal reasons
‘Not exactly starting from a strong place. BUT I would rather not have to go down that path, and wasn’t when attacked.’
He added: ‘I was not in any way shape or form associated with anyone else. I am the victim here, as is my wife, of defamatory comments now apologised for.
‘We had zero to do with any coordination.
‘I won’t back down from a position of no wrongdoing, that much I can assure you. I am the victim here, of Gemma Carey and her disgraceful tweets.’
Child sex abuse survivor Grace Tame (pictured) has used the row to blast defamation laws for empowering offenders and instilling fear
Professor Carey now says she is taking a Twitter holiday but added in one of her final posts: ‘This account is being trolled relentlessly. I am a child abuse survivor, advocate and memoirist.
‘I am a woman Professor in my 30s.
‘These are threatening things to men hiding behind false names and photos They can’t shame me. I have wit, I have brains, and I am still standing.’
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