MEDIA RELEASE: QCAT HEARING TO PROCEED — ADVOCATE REJECTS FALSE NARRATIVES AND SIGNALS FURTHER ACTION AGAINST MEDIA AND ASSOCIATED PARTIES

Brian AJ Newman, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Employment and Human Rights Advocate at 1800ADVOCATES, will proceed to a full hearing before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) on Monday, 27 April 2026, in relation to a human rights complaint grounded in allegations of unlawful discrimination, racial vilification, and sustained victimisation.

MEDIA RELEASE: QCAT HEARING TO PROCEED — ADVOCATE REJECTS FALSE NARRATIVES AND SIGNALS FURTHER ACTION AGAINST MEDIA AND ASSOCIATED PARTIES

The Respondent, Ian Mye, was recently a One Nation candidate for the federal seat of Richmond (Coolangatta), a fact which forms part of the broader public context in which the impugned conduct and subsequent publications have occurred.

The matter arises from a prolonged course of conduct which has extended beyond the original complaint and now encompasses ongoing harassment, reputational attacks, and the dissemination of false and misleading material, including through media channels.

CORE ISSUES BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL

The Applicant’s case is directed to serious contraventions of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), including:

• Racially discriminatory and culturally offensive conduct;

• Victimisation arising from the exercise of protected rights;

• Escalating retaliatory behaviour following the initiation of formal complaint processes;

• The improper use of extraneous and scandalous material in an attempt to divert from the substantive issues.

The Tribunal will be presented with extensive evidentiary material, including contemporaneous communications, recorded interactions, and formal statements demonstrating a pattern of conduct that is both unlawful and profoundly damaging.

FALSE ALLEGATIONS REGARDING PROFESSIONAL STATUS

A central feature of the defamatory narrative advanced by certain individuals and amplified by segments of the media has been the baseless allegation that Mr Newman has misrepresented himself as a practising lawyer.

Mr Newman categorically rejects this assertion.

“At no stage have I ever represented myself as a practising lawyer. That allegation is not only false — it is reckless and demonstrably incapable of proof.”

Mr Newman holds formal legal qualifications, including a Bachelor of Laws, and is presently finalising a Master of International Laws. These qualifications form part of a broader academic and professional background developed over decades of advocacy work.

“They are academic credentials. Nothing more, nothing less. They reflect education and experience — not a claim to legal practice.”

Mr Newman further states:

“I have deliberately chosen not to practise as a lawyer. That is a conscious and longstanding professional decision. My work has always been, and continues to be, as an employment and human rights advocate.”

He adds that the attempt to weaponise his academic qualifications as a basis for attack reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the distinction between legal education and legal practice.

“If anything, I stand as one of the most qualified employment and human rights advocates in this country. That is not something to apologise for. It is the product of decades of commitment to this field.”

MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY — FAILURE OF BASIC VERIFICATION

Following the QCAT proceedings, Mr Newman has confirmed that he will be actively pursuing further action against individuals and media organisations involved in the publication and amplification of defamatory material.

The concerns identified include:

• The publication of allegations without verification of basic facts;

• A failure to distinguish between academic qualifications and professional registration;

• Reliance on unsubstantiated claims from conflicted or unreliable sources;

• The amplification of narratives that have caused substantial reputational harm and personal distress.

“The standard expected of any media organisation is simple — verify before you publish,” Mr Newman said.

“That standard was not met. Not even at the most basic level.”

NEXT PHASE OF PROCEEDINGS

Mr Newman has confirmed that, upon the conclusion of the QCAT hearing:

• Further proceedings will be considered against parties responsible for defamatory publications;

• Formal complaints will be advanced regarding media conduct and ethical breaches;

• Additional regulatory and legal avenues will be pursued to address the harm caused.

“This matter is no longer confined to a single complaint,” Mr Newman stated. “It now raises broader issues of accountability — not only for discriminatory conduct, but for the reckless dissemination of false information.”

ABOUT BRIAN AJ NEWMAN

Brian AJ Newman is an employment and human rights advocate with nearly three decades of experience representing individuals in workplace and human rights matters across Australia.

Through 1800ADVOCATES, he provides professional advocacy services in tribunals and commissions, with a focus on access to justice, procedural fairness, and the protection of individual rights.

MEDIA ENQUIRIESBAJNPhone: 0411 NEWMAN (0411 639 626)Website: www.bajn.au

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