Taxpayers to foot defamation defence bill for Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie

Updated

Taxpayers will fund the defence of defamation claims against Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie.

Court documents obtained by the ABC reveal Gold Coast solicitor Chris Hannay is suing Mr Newman and Mr Bleijie over claims that bikie lawyers were part of a "criminal gang machine" and would do anything to defend their clients.

In February, Mr Newman said lawyers who defended bikies were "hired guns" who took money from people who sold drugs to teenagers.

Mr Bleijie defended the comments the next day.

Mr Hannay says the comments were in response to a journalist's question about his advice to clients on the Gold Coast.

He is seeking $1.2 million in damages.

The Premier's office says it will not comment on the case against Mr Newman and Mr Bleijie because the matter is before the courts.

Taxpayers also footed the bill when former Queensland Labor premier Anna Bligh and then-treasurer Andrew Fraser were sued for defamation.

In 2010, they reached an out-of-court settlement with businessman and now federal MP Clive Palmer.

Do you know more? Email: investigations@abc.net.au

Topics: courts-and-trials, liberal-national-party, activism-and-lobbying, public-sector, judges-and-legal-profession, brisbane-4000, southport-4215, qld

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