by Neither Nick Ferrett, QC, acting for Mr Dutton, nor Louise Goodchild, for Mr Bazzi, indicated their clients held out great hope of settling the proceedings after mediation but both said they were prepared to engage in the process. Justice White said even when parties were reluctant participants, mediation could be successful.
Justice White ordered Mr Dutton and Mr Bazzi to attend mediation in person by August 31 and work bona fide towards a resolution.
In a written defence filed in the Federal Court on May 28, Mr Bazzi is seeking to rely on the defences of honest opinion and qualified privilege.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters issued an apology in March for a February 25 tweet in which she accused the former home affairs minister of being an inhuman, sexist rape apologist after he said he hadnt been provided with the she said, he said details of the allegation involving Ms Higgins.
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