Lyons case ‘surprising’
MP RAISES ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT ADDRESS
GEELONG MP Christine Couzens has slammed former mayor Darryn Lyons’s decision to take legal action against a community radio station. Ms Couzens yesterday made a member’s statement in Parliament about the situation, showing support for The Pulse radio station which is fundraising to keep doors open during and beyond the court case. A regular guest on the station’s programs, Ms Couzens said she was “shocked” to hear Mr Lyons was suing charity Diversitat over on-air comments made in July last year that likened his nightclubs to “drug dens”.
“It would seem surprising that Darryn Lyons would sue anybody for defamation given that he is a selfprofessed opponent of political correctness and a champion of free speech,” she said.
“Mr Lyons has referred to others in his articles as gutless, gormless, pathetic, scumbags, liars, manipulators, minions, brown noses and henchmen.”
A writ filed by lawyer Frank Vinci to the Supreme Court alleges Mr Lyons was defamed by Diversitat’s community radio station The Pulse and presenter Greg McHenry.
The writ quotes Mr McHenry saying “the places he looks after, his establishments in town, are drug dens that are not right for the community”.
A claim is being made for a payout to cover “damages, interest, costs (and) such other further orders that the court sees fit”.
The station is hosting a Michael Martinez said the threat of permanent closure was real.
“The Pulse is a not-forprofit community radio station whose day-to-day operations survive on the good will of our volunteers and sponsors within the community,” it read.
“The financial hardship this suit has and will continue to bring may be devastating to our ability to operate.
“It will be an extremely sad day for Geelong and surrounding regions if the station were forced to close our doors, devastating hundreds of volunteers and thousands of listeners.”