IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted AT MELBOURNE COMMON LAW DIVISION MAJOR TORTS LIST S ECI 2019 01228 THE QUEEN (ON THE APPLICATION OF THE DIRECTOR Applicant OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS) v THE HERALD AND WEEKLY TIMES PTY LTD & OTHERS Respondents (according to the attached Schedule) --- JUDGE: John Dixon J WHERE HELD: Melbourne DATE OF HEARING: 9–13, 16–17 November 2020; 4 December 2020; 28–29 January 2021; 1 February 2021 (liability hearing) 10–11, 16–17 February 2021 (penalty hearing) DATE OF JUDGMENT: 4 June 2021 CASE MAY BE CITED AS: The Queen v The Herald & Weekly Times Pty Ltd MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION: [2021] VSC 253 --- CONTEMPT OF COURT – Breach of suppression order contempt – High profile accused faced two trials – Suppression order made to protect accused’s right to fair second trial – Suppression order prohibited publication of ‘information derived from the trials’ – Overseas news media organisations published information identifying accused and details of charges after jury’s verdict in first trial – Multiple Australian news media outlets published information derived from the trial and encouraged searches to locate overseas publications identifying accused. CONTEMPT OF COURT – Penalty – Applicable principles – Where pleas of guilty entered at trial – Where privilege maintained over legal advice – Where content, tone and subject matter of publications conveyed intention to frustrate purpose or efficacy of suppression order – Where respondents consent to costs order in favour of applicant – Where natural persons employed by respondents said to be were impacted by separate charges that were discontinued at trial. --- i APPEARANCES: Counsel Solicitors For the applicant Ms L De Ferrari SC with Ms Abbey Hogan, Solicitor for Ms R Kaye of counsel (for Public Prosecutions liability hearing) Ms R Kaye of counsel (for penalty hearing) For the first, fourth, fifth, Mr W T Houghton QC with Thomson Geer seventh, ninth and twelfth Mr S Mukerjea and respondents Mr M A McLay of counsel For the fifteenth, twentieth, Dr M Collins QC with Thomson Geer twenty-sixth, twenty-eighth, Mr S Mukerjea and thirtieth and thirty-third Mr M A McLay of counsel respondents ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Plea agreement............................................................................................................................... 4 Relief sought .................................................................................................................................. 7 Findings of facts ................................................................................................................................. 8 The Pell trials .................................................................................................................................... 10 Two trials ...................................................................................................................................... 10 The suppression order ................................................................................................................ 10 The cathedral trial and jury verdict .......................................................................................... 12 The publications and the application to vary the suppression order .................................. 12 The impugned reports ..................................................................................................................... 19 News Corp online articles .......................................................................................................... 19 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 19 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 22 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 24 Daily Telegraph article ............................................................................................................... 24 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 24 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 25 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 26 Courier Mail article ..................................................................................................................... 26 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 26 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 26 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 26 The Age articles ........................................................................................................................... 27 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 27 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 33 The Age online article, The Age article and the SMH article ......................... 33 The Age online editorial ...................................................................................... 34 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 35 The AFR articles .......................................................................................................................... 35 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 35 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 39 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 40 Mamamia online article .............................................................................................................. 40 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 40 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 44 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 45 Business Insider online article ................................................................................................... 45 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 45 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 46 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 46 2GB Breakfast segment ............................................................................................................... 47 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 47 Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 48 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 48 Today Show segments ................................................................................................................ 49 Circumstances of publication .......................................................................................... 49 iii Content in breach of the suppression order .................................................................. 50 Extent of publication ......................................................................................................... 50 Principles ........................................................................................................................................... 51 Applicant’s submissions ................................................................................................................. 57 Mitigating factors ............................................................................................................................. 62 Culpability and responsibility ...................................................................................................... 63 Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 63 Tendency to interfere with due administration of justice ........................................... 64 Frustration of purpose or efficacy of suppression order ............................................. 68 Respondents’ contentions .......................................................................................................... 69 Analysis .......................................................................................................................................