2023年2月12日

就像晚餐一樣，當涉及到高風險的訴訟時，總是會有關於誰來買單的爭論。在這一法案上，沒有哪兩個對手會比以前的同事、現在的死敵寶琳·漢森和布萊恩·伯斯頓更激烈了。讀者可能還記得，前單一民族黨參議員、後來成為克萊夫·帕爾默所在的統一澳大利亞黨參議院領袖的伯斯頓，於2020年6月對漢森提起誹謗訴訟，原因是漢森在2019年的臉書帖子、電視采訪和給他妻子的短信中發表的言論。漢森隨後反訴，稱他對她的誹謗訴訟是報複和受害，因為他聲稱自己性騷擾了自己的員工。漢森要求聲明，根據《性別歧視法案》，伯斯頓針對性騷擾指控提起的100萬美元誹謗訴訟、他自己對她的性騷擾指控，以及他在她的門上塗抹血跡都是非法的。雖然一開始聯邦法院法官羅伯特·布羅米奇(Robert Bromwich)似乎會告訴他們平分賬單，但由於“他在最重要的問題上取得了成功”，漢森被要求支付75%的中間申請費用。不過，這隻是一個小小的勝利。在2018年拋棄漢森後，伯斯頓加入了帕爾默的統一澳大利亞黨，但在2019年失去了參議院席位。法院此前發現，伯斯頓性騷擾了兩名女工作人員，但漢森仍然被迫向他支付25萬美元的賠償金，因為他錯誤地指控他性虐待和無端攻擊。漢森通過發言人拒絕置評。 CRYPTO-CUPID Returning to the subject of romance, be it budding or soured, it’s that time of year when corporates fight to deliver the most weird and unsettling Valentine’s Day content. Paris Hilton. Credit: The Hallmark holiday hasn’t even dawned yet, but we’re ready to declare Hong Kong-based crypto-ish gaming and software company Animoca Brands the winner for its offering – a fake tropical island where players can, with the help of a virtual Paris Hilton, find “true love in the metaverse”. “Parisland” – as the absurd, rather dark gimmick is known – allows players to take part in a virtual reality dating show, hosted by Hilton’s virtual avatar, and if they’re lucky enjoy a fabulous (virtual) wedding deejayed by the has-been heiress herself. It is, according to the company, “a mission to help people find love”. Now valued at a staggering $US5.9 billion ($8.52 billion), Animoca was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020 over regulatory and governance failings, although founder Yat Siu recently told the Financial Times he thought it was actually all because the regulator “just didn’t like crypto”. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here . Save