Carter v Blanco: Port Hedland defamation case takes new turn as court narrows scope of Blanco’s defence

The high-profile defamation case between Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter and former mayor Camilo Blanco has taken a significant turn, with the Supreme Court limiting the claims Cr Blanco can use in his defence. The court found Cr Blanco’s defence included allegations and evidence that extended beyond the scope of the articles and statements cited by Mr Carter as defamatory. These included references to unrelated incidents, such as Mr Carter’s past business dealings involving Pilbara Airlines and an Aboriginal corporation. The court ruled that such claims were too broad and irrelevant to the specific allegations in question. The decision means Cr Blanco must now replead his case, narrowing it to the specific claims Mr Carter identified in his defamation suit. Mr Carter is suing Cr Blanco for damages over claims he made during the May 31 Port Hedland ordinary council meeting and in an online video. Cr Blanco questioned the mayor at the Town of Port Hedland’s May 31 council meeting about plans to build 4000 houses in the town. He was served with the defamation action after the June ordinary council meeting. Key parts of Cr Blanco’s defence struck out by the court include broad allegations of fraud and corruption that were not directly tied to the housing development proposal or council meeting in question, as well as claims that Mr Carter censored questions about his conduct at multiple meetings, despite evidence relating only to a single meeting on May 31, 2023. The court’s ruling gives Cr Blanco the chance to replead his defence, but he must now refine his case to focus on the statements identified by Mr Carter. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the legal battle, narrowing the issues to be contested and setting the stage for a more focused trial.