issues

$1 million dollars - the cost of community activism

Media Release                                                                                 3 November 2009

$1 million dollars  - the cost of community activism

Today Greens MLC Ian Cohen sought leave from the High Court of Australia to appeal a decision of the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal. The High Court has denied Mr Cohen’s application for leave to appeal in relation to a defamation matter.

“I am disappointed with the High Court’s decision and feel that the decision has put a very high price on sticking up for your mates and your community,’ says Mr Cohen.  

“As a result of the court decision I am now facing costs of approximately $1.015 million.”

“If someone wishes to speak their mind in this state then they had better have a million dollars up their sleeve  – before they even start counting their own legal costs.

“This was a meeting of friends; a community fundraiser. If you’ve listened to Parliament or players at a football or cricket match, you would realise that what I said was tame by comparison.”

“At a community fundraiser I said a few words in defence of a friend who was being sued and who faced losing his home - the stress later led to his family breaking up. It was an inconsequential, unprepared speech.  

“Seven years and more than a million dollars later I am in an unenviable position.

I believe history will judge that I did the right thing by my mates. The result of my case shows that community activism comes at a high price.”