“Next Saturday … a couple of us were going to head out to Centennial Park with our pony Zeus for a picnic and a little ride,” said one member of a prominent horse-racing family. “If you’re free and wanting to join,please do!”

Royal treatment

Monash University event planners were keen to roll out the red carpet last Thursday night at Melbourne’s RACV Club on Bourke Street for the launch of “In the National Interest”,a series of political thought pieces curated by publisherLouise Adler. The 12-title series includes contributions by former prime ministerKevin Rudd,former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretaryMartin Parkinson and leading barristerRachel Doyle,SC.

It could be Adler’s most significant political publishing foray since the high-profile former journalist quit as chief executive of Melbourne University Press in January 2019 following a sudden downsizing and sharp change in direction at the university imprint towards academic publishing.

So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Monash pushed out the hospitality boat. While the RACV launch was a cocktail affair,the authors and a lucky few were invited for supper at chefDusty Treweek’sswanky Italian eatery Bottega a few blocks away at the top of Bourke Street.

Organisers even arranged a minibus to ferry guests from one end of Bourke Street to the other - a thoughtful gesture,but one that prompted some head-scratching as the two venues were a) on the same street and b) three tram stops from each other.

What’s more,a road block on Bourke Street forced the minibus to take a more circuitous route than any tram or pedestrian had to endure. When the time came for the minibus to depart for dinner,not everyone was on board for semi-public transport.Ruddtravelled the five blocks in a pre-arranged private car.

Band back together

Christian Porter has hit back at the ABC,claiming the broadcaster defamed him in its reporting of a historic rape claim. The Attorney-Generalfiled in the Federal Court on Monday,accusing the ABC of making “false allegations” against him and inciting a trial by media. He also accused reporterLouise Milligan of acting with “malice” in her coverage of the historic claim.

Porter’s intentions to take the legal route against the ABC and Milligan have been well sign-posted since he tapped MinterEllison’s defamation expertPeter Bartlett for advice more than two weeks ago.

Readers will recall the palaver that ensued there when Minters’ then-chief executiveAntoinetteAnnette Kimmittcirculated an all-staff email expressing how allegations against Bartlett’s client had “triggered hurt” in the firm. Kimmittleft the firm last Wednesday in a “mutual agreement” with chairmanDavid O’Brien.

As for Porter,he is now being represented by well-connected Sydney solicitorRebekah Giles and powerhouse barristersSue Chrysanthou,SC,andBretWalker,SC.

So what happened to Minters? Turns out that the firm is also working for the ABC in other matters. It’s an acceptable arrangement when partners are advising clients in the absence of legal proceedings,but it can be a conflict when court action is filed.

Besides,Giles and co have form. They worked together representing Greens SenatorSarah Hanson-Youngin her successful defamation claim against former senatorDavid Leyonhjelm. Giles and Chrysanthou also represented Liberal MPDave Sharmain his successful defence against former Labor MPMelissa Parke who accused Sharma of defamation.

More recently,Chrysanthou acted for former Blue Sky directorElaine Steadin her partly successful action againstAustralian Financial Review columnistJoe Aston. As a lawyer for this publication and theAFR,Bartlett would recall that better than most.