How many birthdays has Oscar the cavoodle enjoyed at the centre of legal action? That was the question we pondered on Monday when we learnt that the celebrity pooch had just turned eight.
This year, it turns out, marks the third birthday he will spend at least tangentially involved in litigation since his owner, barrister Gina Edwards, successfully sued Nine Entertainment, owner of this masthead, for defamation over a series of programs on Nine’s A Current Affair, which she alleged depicted her as a “dog thief”.
More than three years after the defamation win, Edwards remains locked in a bitter legal dispute with her former lawyer, the high-profile solicitor Rebekah Giles.
For those in need of a refresher: Federal Court Justice Michael Wigney awarded Edwards $150,000 in damages after she won her defamation bid against Nine over stories that aired in May and June 2021. Then Edwards fell out with Giles over legal costs worth $1.2 million.
Now, Edwards and Giles remain tied up in a protracted dispute in the NSW Supreme Court. Edwards filed a statement of claim in July last year alleging that Giles and her firm Giles George were professionally negligent and had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to costs agreements made before the Nine proceedings.
The matter will return to the court for a directions hearing on May 21. But now we can’t help wondering what the odds are that Edwards will call members of her former legal team as witnesses.
How tantalising to think there is a world where prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, could be cross-examined by top silk Arthur Moses, SC, after he was drafted in to represent Giles George early last year. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility. And if this matter hadn’t already descended into farce, the prospect of Chrysanthou giving evidence surely nudges it there.
Giles and Edwards declined to comment.
Meanwhile, the money remains on ice: The $1.2 million in costs paid out by Nine have been held by the court registry, where we can only guess the cash isn’t accruing interest, while the $150,000 in damages has been held in a trust controlled by Edwards’ former lawyers.
Who knows, maybe it won’t be long before Oscar has another occasion to dust off that black barrister’s gown.
Karl Stefanovic goes Rogue
Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic has for months had one foot out the door of Nine, which also owns this masthead, as he nears the end of a multimillion-dollar contract that does not look like it will be renewed. So we can’t blame the guy for going all in on his podcast while he looks for employment opportunities.
For the latest piece of evidence, we point you to his bronze-coloured Toyota HiLux, which was seen cruising the streets of North Sydney on Monday morning – not by us, funnily enough – with all new stickers carrying the logo of his right-wing podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.
Word is the decals are new, but the dual cab luxy is not. It’s one of Toyota’s top-of-the-range HiLux Rogue editions, which start at about $70,000. Stefanovic, we hear, has apparently been driving the shopping trolley for about two years. But our bet is the thing hasn’t been west of Newtown.
Defence lobbyist sells $4000 tables to Parli budget dinner
Earlier this year, defence lobbyist Sarah Cullens raised eyebrows in political and lobbying circles when she launched a professional network and, according to The Australian, called on MPs and senators to donate their time to mentor lobbyists, who would pay for the privilege.
The idea was packaged up as part of Cullens’ launch of Women in Government Relations Australia (WGRA) this year, which drew appearances from Assistant Minister for Women Rebecca White and her opposition counterpart, Melissa McIntosh.
A private sector membership, according to the WGRA website, goes for $300, while those working in the non-profit sector can sign up for $180, and students $100. But now it looks like Cullen is set to extend the network to Parliament House for an inaugural budget night dinner, with corporate tables going for $4000 a pop.
The organisation, according to an online listing, promises to bring together “senior government relations professionals, members of parliament, policy experts and industry leaders for an evening of insight” and “strategic conversation”. Buyers will get “premium seating” for 10 guests in Mural Hall, Parliament House.
“This will be one of the most influential gatherings of government relations professionals in Australia on budget night – a rare opportunity to bring together decision-makers, advisers and policy leaders in one room,” the listing reads. We bet!
But we were naturally wondering what happens to the funds raised after the costs of the event are covered? Our efforts to learn more about the event turned up nothing. Cullens declined to answer questions about what the funds raised will go towards, how many tables have sold so far, and whether the event is a fundraiser.
John Buckley is a CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.