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Judge Dismisses MacInnes Defamation Suit, Orders Costs

7/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed Charlotte MacInnes’s defamation suit on July 22, 2026, ruling Wilson’s Instagram posts non-defamatory.
The judge ordered MacInnes to pay costs after Wilson claimed MacInnes altered her September 2023 bath story with Amanda Ghost.
Wilson thanked the judge, said she looks forward to family, and recalled a 4.5 million Australian-dollar payout in 2017 later cut to $450,000.

History

Historical Context

The 1996 High Court decision in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corp ended the implied constitutional defence for politicians, requiring them to prove false statements caused reputational harm. That precedent guided Justice Elizabeth Raper’s dismissal of Charlotte MacInnes’s defamation claim over Wilson’s Instagram posts, echoing Justice Michael Kirby’s earlier comments on the decision’s impact.

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Story summary

Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed Charlotte MacInnes’s defamation suit on July 22, 2026, ruling Wilson’s Instagram posts non-defamatory.
The judge ordered MacInnes to pay costs after Wilson claimed MacInnes altered her September 2023 bath story with Amanda Ghost.
Wilson thanked the judge, said she looks forward to family, and recalled a 4.5 million Australian-dollar payout in 2017 later cut to $450,000.

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