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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Benita Kolovos Victorian state correspondent

Sam Groth’s ambition to be premier meant articles on relationship with wife ‘not idle gossip’, News Corp claims

Sam and Brittany Groth attend a sports event last year.
Sam and Brittany Groth are suing the Herald and Weekly Times over articles published in July. Photograph: Morgan Hancock/AAP

News Corp stories alleging Sam Groth began dating his wife, Brittany, while she was underage were far from “idle gossip” given the claims were being “weaponised” by rivals of the Victorian Liberal MP, who aspires to become premier, the publisher has told a court.

The Herald and Weekly Times (HWT), reporter Stephen Drill and Herald Sun editor Sam Weir are being sued in the federal court over a series of articles published in July. Groth is suing for defamation while his wife has launched the first test case of new laws for serious invasions of privacy.

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