Christian Porter’s high-profile advocate Jo Dyer, has been awarded $430,000 in costs after the federal court forced the former attorney general’s barrister to stand down during an ABC defamation case.
Dyer, advocated as the friend of a deceased woman who had accused the former Attorney-General of raping her three decades ago.
Porter launched a case against the ABC, exposing the alleged rape and alluding to him being the perpetrator.
While Porter always denied the allegations, Dyer began her own legal action, seeking to block barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC from acting for him.
Dyer successfully argued that Chrysanthou had a potential conflict arising out of a meeting about a separate matter between the two women in November 2020 and that confidential information handled by her could potentially affect the case.
There has been an ongoing court case between Dyer and Chrysanthou with the latter seeking to have the costs claim reduced, as well as access to timesheets and invoices to challenge the claim.
National judicial registrar Tim Luxton, however, ruled on Wednesday that Dyer was entitled to costs of $430,200 as part of a lump-sum payment; costs that apply to both Chrysanthou and Porter.
The fact that lawyers for Porter last year announced that he would appeal the decision to bar Chrysanthou.
Back in November, a judge dismissed an attempt by Porter to access notes he claimed would assist the appeal, and made another costs order related to the exercise.
The appeal is likely to be heard in February. More to come.
