Corrupt Labor minister Ian Macdonald’s 'bad reputation' the ABC’s defence in defamation case

By Michaela Whitbourn
Updated September 23 2014 - 8:08am, first published 6:01am
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker
Seeking damages in the NSW Supreme Court: Ian Macdonald arrives at ICAC hearings last year. Photo: Nic Walker

The ABC is attempting to defend a defamation case brought against it by corrupt former NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald by arguing his "bad reputation" could not have been further damaged by claims made in a TV news broadcast.