Herron action puts web game offline
Kate Mackenzie of australianIT.com.au
19 January 2001
THE Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Senator John
Herron, has launched defamation action against an Australian website
operator.
The site, http://www.webwank.net/ , featured a Flash game called "John Herron's stolen
children game", which has since been taken offline.
The Minister authorised an email be sent to the site operators, warning them
to take down the game immediately.
"This is to formally let you know that I am instituting proceedings against
you for defamation in the Supreme Court of Queensland," the email said.
"The Federal Police will be involved to track this website if I do not
receive a response within 24 hours."
A spokesman for Senator Herron said the Senator was highly offended that
game referred to his 10 children.
"He was extremely offended that the game related the fact that the the
Minister has 10 children to the whole question of the stolen generation,"
the spokesman said.
He could not confirm the status of the legal action after the game had been
removed.
"He is considering his options - obviously there's been action taken in
respect to the site since he issued his warnings - he's considering his
options, that having occurred."
The site operators could not be contacted.
Kate Mackenzie of australianIT.com.au
19 January 2001
THE Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Senator John
Herron, has launched defamation action against an Australian website
operator.
The site, http://www.webwank.net/ , featured a Flash game called "John Herron's stolen
children game", which has since been taken offline.
The Minister authorised an email be sent to the site operators, warning them
to take down the game immediately.
"This is to formally let you know that I am instituting proceedings against
you for defamation in the Supreme Court of Queensland," the email said.
"The Federal Police will be involved to track this website if I do not
receive a response within 24 hours."
A spokesman for Senator Herron said the Senator was highly offended that
game referred to his 10 children.
"He was extremely offended that the game related the fact that the the
Minister has 10 children to the whole question of the stolen generation,"
the spokesman said.
He could not confirm the status of the legal action after the game had been
removed.
"He is considering his options - obviously there's been action taken in
respect to the site since he issued his warnings - he's considering his
options, that having occurred."
The site operators could not be contacted.