Your Statement ...

"Contrast this with the extraordinary coverage over several years now of the empty allegations relating to Julia Gillard and a boyfriend back in the early 1990s, long before she was even in Parliament. Just count the articles raking over old relationships, speculating about possible jail time, and generally trashing the PM's character. Yet with not one single item of plausible evidence, let alone a judge's decision on a further court appearance"

As an ABC viewer, I appear to have missed this Story....

AA,

Subjecting OLO to another dish of tripe?

Your comment WRT the Ashby case "So judges seem quick to spot and to quash abuses of process for political ends." Is complete rubbish given that the judge only made his pronouncement at the conclusion of the trial many months later.

You drawing a conclusion that there is a solid case based on Applegarth's comment of "I'm not encouraging you to think you've got a case,".."Quite frankly you're not at first base yet in complying with the civil procedure." Is drawing a very long bow.

Abbott did not de register One Nation or convict PH, the Judge of the court did after following due process and weighing the evidence.

Even if Abbott loses this case, it is not a criminal case and will have no effect on his career.

empty allegations relating to Julia Gillard and a boyfriend back in the early 1990s

Yes well, I don't believe there is much doubt she was out of order at the very least & more likely knowingly involved. Note that her employer took the matter seriously enough to dispense with her services & the 'boyfriend' turned out to have a very 'interesting' career.

Tony Abbott - the Defendant, again.

Gillard has cogent complaints to answer; these complainst are partially sustained by her own statements:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14428

The jailing of Ettridge and Hanson was a miscarriage but Abbott did not prosecute the case against them or find them guilty; he was not part of the case.

Ettridge has every right to feel aggrieved; but the contrast with Gillard could not be more stark. Despite her own admissions and considerable evidence and statements from other diverse people she has had no complaint brought against her.

Unlike Austin who only has one eye in these matters I would endorse the notion that every citizen from the PM down should be treated equally before the law. That includes Abbott.

Neither Abbott or Gillard has had to face charges yet; Ettridge's proposed claim against Abbott is not a criminal matter and anyone,however badly prepared and ill-informed, can bring a civil claim as Ettridge is clumsily trying to do.

Gillard's situation is completely different; the issue with her would be criminal charges which go to the efficacy of the system itself.

I was quite astounded at the time of Mz Hanson's imprisonment and later case quashed release!
I didn't agree with her patently racist policies, but accepted her right to hold her own personal, if seriously misguided opinions/beliefs.
None of which should have been a hanging offence or resulted in jail time!
One also notes, much of which one nation announced as policy, was later adopted as coalition policy, starting it would seem, with the shameful treatment of asylum seekers, (human beings) aboard the Tampa.
We are all equal under the law, allegedly!
Even so, given the patently different treatment, and the fact that Mr Abbott was allowed to turn our parliament into a kangaroo court, has without any doubt, ended the careers of at least two politicians, well ahead of their day in court!
Slams home the fact, as nothing else can; that some are more equal than others.
Given that is so, one can safely predict that Mr Abbott will walk away, from his day in court, with both his bank balance and political career largely unharmed!
Rhrosty.