Anne Webster: Australian MP and husband awarded A$875,000 in defamation case

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An Australian MP and her husband have been awarded A$875,000 ($628,000; £493,000) in a defamation suit.

The National Party's Anne Webster sued conspiracy theorist Karen Brewer over posts she wrote on Facebook in April and May.

On Tuesday, Justice Jacqueline Gleeson called the claims "wholly indefensible".

Ms Brewer was ordered to pay damages to Ms Webster, her husband and an organisation they founded.

"The applicants are entitled to substantial awards of damage to 'nail the lie' - that is, to demonstrate the baselessness of Ms Brewer's charges and to vindicate the good name of each of the applicants," Justice Gleeson wrote in her judgement.

The posts alleged that Ms Webster was "a member of a secretive paedophile network" and made false claims about Zoe Support, an organisation created by the Websters to help single mothers.

Ms Webster was awarded damages of $350,000, her husband damages of $225,000 and Zoe Support $300,000.

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Anne Webster

Australian MP