Sarah Hanson-Young to Sue David Leyonhjelm for Defamation
South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has publicly declared her intentions to pursue legal action against Liberal Democrats Senator for New South Wales David Leyonhjelm, announcing today that she has engaged lawyers in relation to a recent incident which occurred between the pair. Leyonhjelm last week caused a storm of controversy, after yelling at Hanson-Young during a parliamentary debate to “stop shagging men”. Following the incident, Leyonhjelm then proceeded to further criticise Hanson-Young during an appearance on Sky News program ‘Outsiders’, defending his comments by arguing that “Hanson-Young is known for liking men…The rumours about her in parliament are well known”.
Leyonhjelm’s comments have led to widespread condemnation, with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Federal cabinet minister Simon Birmingham, and Sky News Australia’s political editor David Speers, among those who have publicly criticised the senator over his remarks. Leyonhjelm has previously clashed with Hanson-Young on multiple different occasions during his time as a senator, and is well known for his often abrasive manner. This latest episode appears to be yet another example of the Liberal Democrat senator’s willingness to push the boundaries of political correctness, and could prove to be a decisive moment in his political career, depending on the outcome of any legal action against him.
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