Sarah Hanson-Young Sues David Leyonhjelm for Defamation. Her lawsuit says he called her a hypocrite and a misandrist for attacking men in public while having sex with them in private.

EricAllonde · 2018-08-01T12:00:47+00:00

Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, but have discussed defamation law with lawyers here in Australia.

I can't see how this lawsuit could possibly succeed. Defamation law applies to false statements of fact, not opinion. For example:

"Sarah Hanson-Young murdered her grandfather" <- definitely defamatory if it's not true.

"Sarah Hanson-Young is a hypocrite" <- a statement of opinion and not defamatory.

Since SHY is a public figure (i.e. a politician), the threshold for proving she's been defamed is even higher than for an ordinary Joe Public. People are allowed to say they think politicians are hypocrites, assholes, liars etc etc without repercussions.

I agree with Leyonhjelm: this is just a stunt on SHY's part. She's playing the victim, as feminists always do, to gin up extra sympathy from her far-Left feminist/SJW base. The lawsuit will be tossed out in due course, after SHY has milked it for donations and votes.

lostapwbm · 2018-08-01T13:29:26+00:00

I hope Leyonhjelm files a counterclaim for Abuse of Process (if that's a thing in Australia).

Here in non-Koala land, defamation requires three things: A false statement of fact, publication to a third party, and actual damage.

There's also the matter of whether or not parliamentary privilege protects Leyonhjelm's statements, even if they were defamatory (which they likely aren't).

bufedad · 2018-08-01T14:12:21+00:00

You know what will be funny? If she loses the suit because the truth isn't defamation.

PeonSupreme · 2018-08-01T11:34:56+00:00

I have to wonder myself how Hanson-Young thinks she can have it both ways, saying terrible things about men while still expecting them to love her. Meanwhile, she does nothing to call attention to women’s bad behavior. It’s that lack of balance that bothers me most of all.

PeonSupreme · 2018-08-01T12:55:10+00:00

The headline says it’s a sexist remark as if it’s settled fact. No bias there. /s

PeonSupreme · 2018-08-01T14:40:27+00:00

Honestly, if women like Hanson-Young are going to play politics with the shocking rape and murder of Eurydice Dixon,, then they ought to be prepared for anyone who cares about the rights of men and boys to use the murder of Aaron Pajich or the Australian circus sex abuse scandal in the same way.

TomahawkSuppository · 2018-08-02T15:53:05+00:00

How is it a sexist remark? Where is the sexism in calling someone a hypocrite?

PeonSupreme · 2018-08-01T13:53:25+00:00

It’s defamation for him to call her behavior inconsistent, but it’s not defamation for her to walk up to him in the middle of parliament and call him a creep. (!)