Taxpayers shouldn’t pay ABC fines

It’s down the line, I know. The trial hasn’t even started. But that doesn’t stop us looking ahead and being prepared (like good scouts). In the event that the ABC and Louise Milligan are found to have acted with malice against Christian Porter in his defamation case against them, the court may impose a hefty fine against both. The ABC’s fine and costs would be borne by the ABC — the taxpayer. Milligan’s fine and costs will be borne by the ABC — the taxpayer. Not much pain. Not much punishment. How can the intent of the court be delivered and the dual purposes of the penalty — punishment and deterrence — be served?

It is a well-established tradition that journalists are indemnified by their publishers, as it…