Season 3 · Episode 272

JUDGEMENTS | When a former PM took on the media [Lange v ABC]

October 22, 202520m 0s

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Show Notes

In the early 1990s, former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange found himself at the center of a defamation storm in Australia.

The ABC re-broadcast allegations suggesting he acted improperly while in office. Lange sued, sparking a legal battle that reached the High Court and tested the limits of free political communication under the Constitution. Lange v ABC set a landmark precedent: political speech is protected, but not at the expense of personal reputation.

In this episode, we unpack the courtroom drama, the judgment, and the enduring impact on media, politics, and the law in Australia.

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Topics

political communicationhigh Courtimplied freedomZealand Labor PartyZealand election campaignLang versus ABCprime ministerDavid Langnetwork entitled fronthold public officeproper political conductinfluence government policybig business interestsSir Frank renewftelevision programpolitical mattersApril nineteenSupreme Courtdebt incurredgovernment contractpolitical speechSir Frank renewDan Mullinscitizens alikeSouth WalesSir FrankFrank renewmatter complainedgrossly defamatorydefamatory broadcasttheophonist casequalified privilegedefamation lawweekly timesAustralian Constitutionbroader defenseLang casediscussing governmentland caseMedia organizationfree speechindividual reputationpersonal reputationLiSTNR crime

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