Adjudication No. 1429 (adjudicated June 2009) [2009] APC 16

Adjudication No. 1429 (adjudicated June 2009)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Zarah Garde-Wilson over an article published in The Herald Sun on January 6, 2009.

The article reported threats by Roberta Williams (the former wife of underworld criminal Carl Williams) that she would "hurt" Garde-Wilson when she next saw her. Garde-Wilson was formerly the lawyer for both Carl and Roberta Williams.

The article included details of the suburb in which Garde-Wilson lives and the make, colour and registration plate details of her motor vehicle.

The complainant argued that the publication of that information was an inappropriate use and disclosure of personal information. She claims that it has endangered her and her family.

The Council believes that the newspaper erred in publishing the address and motor vehicle details. But this matter was settled following a Press Council mediation between the parties.

That left as the remaining area of contention the extent of the seriousness of threats made by Roberta Williams to Garde-Wilson and whether they should have been reported. The newspaper pointed out that the complainant is a public figure who trades on her high public profile. Additionally, the newspaper said that the information it had included in the article was not specific enough to be a significant concern.

The issues raised were clearly matters of public interest and it was not irresponsible of the newspaper to publish the article.