SSM Advocate Threatens Lawsuit Against ‘No’ Campaign For “Extremist” Link

The organisation leading the campaign against marriage equality has been threatened with legal action, after a Canberra public servant alleged one of their articles suggests she’s an “extremist”.

Lawyers for Jill Moran say they will move ahead with a defamation claim unless the Coalition for Marriage removes and apologises for publishing a photo of Moran from atop an online article titled Tonight A Test For The Extremists Of The ‘Yes’ Campaign.

The September 16 article, which is based on a Brisbane Times piece discussing alleged conflict within the ‘Yes’ campaign regarding its public activism, references the alleged “bullying and intimidation tactics” used by “extremists who will do anything to silence those who do not agree with them.”

While Moran was not mentioned by name, she believes the Coalition For Marriage using an image of her attending a protest in conjunction with the article is enough to link her to the alleged “bullying and intimidation tactics”.

Speaking to the ABC, Moran said “it is completely untrue and hurtful to paint me as violent or a political extremist,” but Coalition For Marriage spokesperson said they hadn’t defamed her by publishing the image.

The Coalition For Marriage was alerted late last month, and Moran’s lawyer Phil Johnston said they’ll move ahead with legal action if the piece is not amended within a 28-day period.

At time of writing, Moran’s image remains on the Coalition For Marriage’s site. Speaking to Fairfax, Johnston said “this could end today if the Coalition was inclined.”

 

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