Michael West Media is being sued by BHP, The Big Australian, for our reporting on the case of injured coal miner Simon Turner.
At the centre of the fight are questions of public interest journalism, confidentiality orders, labour hire, coal mining, and whether a $300 billion corporate giant should be using the courts against a small independent media outlet.
Michael West breaks down the claim, the role of BHP’s lawyers Minter Ellison, the long-running story of Simon Turner, and why MWM is preparing to fight back, possibly with the inaugural BHP Ball and Minter Ellison Press Freedom Oration.
David v the Goliaths. Lone coal miner tackles BHP & co in Court over massive wage theft
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
