The appeal by Steve Price, John Laws and Radio 2UE of the decision of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) that they had unlawfully vilified homosexuals in contravention of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), will be begin in the ADT on Tuesday 21 June 2005.
Alexis Goodstone, Mr Burns’ solicitor, said:
‘At this stage, the hearing will address the question of whether the ADT has the power to hear the Constitutional arguments put forward by Price, Laws and 2UE’s appeal. The NSW Attorney General has intervened in the proceedings, and will argue that the ADT does not have the power. Until this question is determined by the ADT, the full appeal will not go ahead.’
In November, the ADT found that Laws, Price and 2UE had unlawfully vilified homosexuals, and in February, ordered that they all make public apologies and pay the Applicant’s (Mr Gary Burns) legal costs. Price and Laws were ordered to make public apologies on air, and Radio 2UE to print an apology in three major metropolitan newspapers.
The complaint had been lodged by Gary Burns after comments were made on Radio 2UE by Price and Laws in relation to the appearance of a gay couple on the Channel 9 television program, The Block.
Mr Burns is represented by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic O’Grady, Media and Communications Officer,
Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Ph: 02 8898 6532 or 0400 110 169