Fresh from his defamation victory with The Saturday Paper, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi is now demanding an apology from one of his colleagues who praised the story.
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Senator Bernardi informed his colleagues at Tuesday's party room meeting that he had recently reached a settlement with The Saturday Paper over an article that alleged a string of false claims about his business dealings.
The Saturday Paper has retracted the allegations and apologised to Senator Bernardi for the "distress and damage caused to him".
Freelance journalist and transgender activist Kate Doak wrote the piece. Shortly after its publication in February, the Liberal National MP Warren Entsch, who is Parliament's most prominent campaigner on lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex people's rights, praised the piece at an LGBTI parliamentary friendship group event.
Liberal MP slap at LGBTI parliamentary friendship group: Warren Entsch praised @katedoak for story on Cory Bernardi's finances. Awkward.— Harley Dennett (@harleyd)
March 3, 2015
@apmd I've recorded it, but broadly Entsch said he read the story and thought it was "a very good piece". He has a history with Bernardi.— Harley Dennett (@harleyd)
March 3, 2015
Not content with his legal win, Senator Bernardi took his demands to the party room where he made it clear he received a financial settlement and alluded to "one member in the room" who should apologise for drawing attention to the story.
Fairfax Media understands the MP Senator Bernardi is referring to is Mr Entsch.
However Senator Bernardi's demands took a humorous turn when the South Australian MP Rowan Ramsey, who was slated to speak next, stood and jokingly confessed that he was not the culprit.
Some jovially taunted Mr Ramsey, calling on him to "apologise", according to sources in the room.
Mr Entsch said on Wednesday he had not in any way denigrated Sen Bernardi and rejected any assertion that he had done so.
Mr Entsch and Senator Bernardi have publicly fallen out before over the issue of LGBTI rights.
Mr Entsch said in January last year that he was "worried" by Senator Bernardi's "obsession with people that are gay".
"You've really got to watch out for those that have these obsessions. He who protests the loudest…" he said.
Senator Bernardi was considering legal action at the time but none eventuated.
The comments were made in response to Senator Bernardi's controversial book in which he labelled women who have abortions as "pro-death" and criticised mixed families, including step families and single parents.
