In recent days, Channel 9 finally caved in their legal battle with ex-MP Andrew Laming, withdrew all defences against Laming's defamation case, agreed to publish apologies, withdraw offending articles...and make a penalty payment in the vicinity of seven figures.

By way of background, Laming had been accused of up-skirting a female employee ie taking a 'lewd' photo from under her skirt. The claims came at the height of national gender hysteria about allegedly wronged women and Laming's claims of innocence never stood a chance of being heard.

This was especially so after the lamentable Morrison turned on his colleague and demanded his apology and resignation. Laming's career was destroyed.

Channel 9 wasn't the only culprit. Many other news and media organisations piled on, including, unsurprisingly, the despicable Louise Milligan of 'our' ABC. But when the facts finally emerged, many of those who'd wrongly reported on the case raced to offer unreserved apologies.

Channel 9 held out until this week. Laming is now utterly vindicated although his career is over and the usual haters will continue to hate. One should feel joy for his wife and daughters who stood by him throughout.

Of course, the ABC and Milligan held out and have been forced to pay Laming a reported $200,000. We can all be thankful that the ABC agreed to pick up the tab on Milligan's behalf even though she'd used a private twitter account to defame the man. So she gets off scot-free...again.

Various media awards, including Walkley awards, were given for excellence in reporting to the reporters who got things so wrong. Those awards have yet to be withdrawn and, like the Pulitzers given for the false reporting on Trump Russian collusion, probably won't be.

This should be a lesson for all concerned about rushing to judgement. But it won't be.

The deformation centred around Nine using the word "lewd" as in "lewd photo". Laming admitted to taking an unauthorised photo of the female worker, but claimed the photo was not "lewd" Nine agreed and apologised, as for settlement that is not disclosed, and any figure is speculation.

Laming was guilty of being a ratbag. Politics is bad enough without his sort. Good riddance.

Even if he did upskirt her, so what?

Taking pictures up women's dresses nowadays is hard enough as it is without these additional impediments.

Dear mhaze,

If Laming was unjustly accused which it appears to be the case then justice would seem to be served.

But you really can’t help yourself can you. While Channel 9 did indeed agree to apologise for the upskirting story it was Laming’s abusive behaviour to his constituents which rightly drew the ire of others including the PM.

He also was taken to court by the AEC for breaching rules during the 2019 election where he had created 20 bogus facebook pages that looked grass roots but were instead instigated by himself without acknowledgement.

In my opinion the bloke is a tosser, a pest, and a toxic individual who really shouldn’t be in politics.

Good riddance.