Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth sues Herald Sun over privacy and defamation claims tied to articles questioning his relationship timeline.

Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth is suing the Herald Sun over articles published in late July that questioned the timeline of his relationship with his wife, Brittany, triggering a landmark legal test of Australia’s new federal privacy law. The Groths claim the stories, which remain online, were defamatory and breached privacy, arguing they were not legitimate news but “salacious gossip.” Their legal team is demanding disclosure of the journalist’s sources to prove no credible evidence supported claims of misconduct. News Corp contends the front-page political coverage of a prominent public figure qualifies as protected news. Federal Court Justice Shaun McElwaine will rule by November 6 on whether the privacy issue can be decided before trial, with mediation set for November 7 and a 10-day trial scheduled for May 11, 2026. The case will determine how broadly the media exemption applies to politically sensitive reporting.