Prominent psychologist Tracy Westerman has mounted a lawsuit against Communities Minister Simone McGurk over allegations the minister made defamatory comments about her.
Prominent Aboriginal psychologist Tracy Westerman has mounted a lawsuit against Communities Minister Simone McGurk for damages over allegations the minister made defamatory comments about her during a press conference.
According to a writ lodged in the Supreme Court this week and sent to Dumas House, Dr Westerman has recruited high-profile defamation lawyer Nick Stagg to pursue allegations Ms McGurk made defamatory comments about Dr Westerman to journalists during a press conference at Curtin University on January 19.
In the writ, Dr Westerman claimed the comments were “falsely” and “maliciously” defamatory of her and were then published by several media outlets that same day and republished across a host of social media platforms.
Further, she claims she suffered loss and damage each time the comments were published and republished, something Dr Westerman claimed the minister ought to have known would occur.
Dr Westerman claims the defamatory statements were repeated by Ms McGurk on or after February 2 or 3 to a journalist with the ABC.
She wants damages and aggravated damages, as well as interest from the date of publication until a judgment is handed down, and the coverage of court costs.
Dr Westerman has also demanded the court issue a permanent injunction restraining Ms McGurk from publishing the defamatory matter or any similar comments about her.
Business News contacted Ms McGurk’s office, but a spokesperson said it was not appropriate to comment as the matter was currently before the court.
In 2019, Indigenous Psychological Services, a company led by Dr Westerman, a Nyamal woman, was commissioned by the Department of Communities to review its competency.
Though the report was never publicly released, portions reportedly warning of "widescale and endemic" racism within the department were leaked to the media earlier this year.
The lodgment of the writ coincides with calls by opposition leader Mia Davies for Ms McGurk to resign over concerns about the state of the department.
