The Truth Defence: Ben Roberts-Smith and the Media
Monday 28 August 2023 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
From the treacherous battlegrounds of Afghanistan to the frontlines of the Federal Court, the 110-day defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith emerged as a monumental test case, examining the very essence of truth as defence in an Australian defamation trial.
This trial marked the first time an Australian court scrutinised allegations of war crimes committed by Australian troops, and highlighted the financial and emotional costs of pursuing an uncomfortable truth in the newspaper. But what comes next?
Join investigative journalist Chris Masters, UNSW Sydney legal experts Douglas Guilfoyle and Daniel Joyce, and host Geraldine Doogue as they unravel the remarkable story of Ben Roberts-Smith, examine the highly anticipated trial of the century, and unpack what it means for journalism and justice in Australia.