Lawyer Chris Hannay sues Campbell Newman and Jarrod Bleijie over bikie comments

Updated

A Queensland lawyer who represents outlaw motorcycle gang members is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the state's Premier and Attorney-General in a defamation suit.

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

In the remarks in February, Mr Newman told reporters that lawyers who defended bikies were hired guns who took money from people who sold drugs to teenagers.

Mr Newman's comments prompted the state's Bar Association to demand a retraction and an apology. The remarks also drew criticism from the Queensland Law Society.

Mr Bleijie later defended the Premier, saying Mr Newman was responding specifically to a question about Hannay Lawyers on the Gold Coast.

On Tuesday, Mr Hannay, who has defended bikies, launched defamation proceedings against both the Premier and the Attorney-General.

In the complaint, filed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Mr Hannay is seeking $600,000 in damages from each defendant.

The complaint cites Mr Newman's comments to reporters on February 6 and remarks by Mr Bleijie shortly afterward in which he named Hannay Lawyers.

Mr Hannay is claiming $500,000 in general damages from each defendant.

He also claims a further $100,000 from each in aggravated damages, based on what he alleges was the "malice of the defendants in publishing words they knew to be untrue, motivated by a wish to make political capital out of an attack on lawyers".

He also alleges that they acted with "malicious recklessness ... in the belief that it would be the taxpayer, and not themselves, who would be required to pay the costs of defending this matter, and any damages awarded to the plaintiff".

Mr Hannay declined to comment.

The Premier's office says it cannot comment on the action as the matter is before the courts.

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

Topics: law-crime-and-justice, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, judges-and-legal-profession, qld

First posted