Fact-checks
All Fact-checks
Every fact-check applies a rigorous verdict scale — True, Mostly True, Misleading,
Unsupported, Disputed, or False. Each claim is assessed against authoritative sources
and the right of reply is offered before publication.
Michael West reports on a Federal Court decision in which Justice Needham rejected an urgent application by BHP and its solicitors MinterEllison to fast-track an injunction hearing against West and coal miner Simon Turner. The article details the background of Turner's case against BHP, BHP's attempt to silence coverage of the litigation, and the court's decision to keep the matter on its ordinary course with a case management hearing scheduled for May 29, 2026.
The article discusses a lawsuit filed by Landbridge, a Chinese-owned company, against the Australian government over its policy to terminate a 99-year lease on Darwin Port, using Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) rules in the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The author argues that ISDS provisions give excessive rights to foreign corporations and cites previous cases involving Philip Morris and Clive Palmer to demonstrate problems with the system.
Michael West Media reports that BHP has filed a Federal Court application seeking to suppress journalism about a wage theft case involving former coal miner Simon Turner. The article outlines the specific legal orders BHP is seeking and argues this represents a press freedom issue, while contextualizing the case within broader industrial relations disputes.