西澳房地产开发商格雷格·波兰德因两篇基于2019年秘密录音的报道对前记者提起诽谤诉讼[1]。该录音录于苏比亚科一家酒店，波兰德在其中声称向政界人士提供建议，并指责时任渔业部长戴夫·凯利在龙虾配额改革上"搞砸了"他的建议[1]。
凯利在法庭上对波兰德的指控予以否认，表示"这完全不真实"，并阐明龙虾配额政策是在一年前与多人共同推进的，并于2018年12月宣布[1]。前地方发展部长阿拉娜·麦克蒂尔南也出庭作证，否认曾与波兰德讨论过"有毒土壤"处理问题[1]。麦克蒂尔南表示，她曾建议波兰德辞职以避免媒体困扰[1]。
Two Western Australian government ministers have appeared in court to contest allegations made by Perth property developer Greg Poland in a defamation lawsuit over articles based on a secret 2019 recording.[1]
The dispute centers on a confidential meeting at a Subiaco hotel where Poland claimed to have advised government officials on policy matters.[1] In the recording, Poland alleged that then-Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly had mishandled a lobster quota reform that Poland had proposed.[1] Kelly rejected the accusation under oath, stating "this is completely untrue" and explaining that the policy had been developed collaboratively with multiple parties a year earlier and publicly announced in December 2018.[1]
Former Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan also testified in the case, denying Poland's claims that they had discussed the handling of contaminated soil issues.[1] MacTiernan recounted that she had advised Poland to resign to avoid media complications.[1] Poland is seeking damages over two newspaper reports that drew from the secretly recorded conversation.[1]