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Christine Rankin Threatens To Sue Sue
Department of Work and Income CEO Christine Rankin is threatening to sue Green MP Sue Bradford for defamation over comments made in a Sunday Star Times newspaper article.
Ms Rankin is demanding a public apology and retraction for comments reported in the article that say she puts style ahead of substance.
She has also complained concerning Ms Bradford’s comments reported in the article saying Ms Rankin had been promoted beyond her ability.
Ms Rankin’s lawyers, Quigg Partners, say their client is deeply distressed by Ms Bradford’s comments.
Ms Bradford received a letter from Quigg Partners threatening the legal action yesterday. Ms Bradford tabled the letter during question time in Parliament Today.
Sunday Star Times editor Sue Chetwin told Scoop neither Ms Rankin nor her lawyers had contacted the newspaper as of this afternoon.
Answering a question from Ms Bradford concerning the matter this afternoon, Social Services Minister Steve Maharey said he did not know about the threats of legal action until this morning.
He said he would have expected to be contacted by Ms Rankin before the letter was sent. Public servants needed to take care with communications with MPs because they needed to be seen to be neutral, he said.
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