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{{Short description|News journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2010}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Steve Cannane
| occupation = Journalist
| birth_date = 1970{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
}}

'''Stephen Paul Cannane''' (born 1970)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steve Cannane |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/5255758-Steve-Cannane?srsltid=AfmBOopC2DUFqZRI0qPQjdnzm88Si1OBcKb_XdtIKjXrCcMAX_JwNADB |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref> is a news journalist and current affairs reporter for the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref name=bio>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/steve-cannane/4823320|title=Steve Cannane|date=2013-07-16|website=ABC News|access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref> He is the chief of the ABC's Europe bureau, based in [[London]].<ref name=bio/> Cannane had previously been the ABC's Europe correspondent, a reporter for the ABC's Investigations unit, a host of ''[[The Drum (TV program)|The Drum]]'' and a reporter at ''[[Lateline]]''.<ref name=bio/>

==Politics==
Cannane is a grandson of [[Pat Hills]], a former [[Lord Mayor of Sydney]] and [[Deputy Premier of New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=29 June 2000|title=Flaming undies! Now that was a relay|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/119713157|url-access=subscription|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|page=15|location= |access-date=18 April 2022|quote=...agreed to an interview with Steve Cannane, of 2JJJ, because Cannane is Pat Hills's grandson.}}</ref>

At the age of 22, Cannane was persuaded to run as the [[Australian Labor Party]] candidate for [[Division of Warringah|Warringah]] in the [[1993 Australian federal election]].<ref name=background>{{cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Larry|date=10 January 2008|title=JTV jockey drops in on old friends|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/jtv-jockey-drops-in-on-old-friends-20080110-ge6l89.html|url-access=limited|work=[[The Age]]|location= |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> Despite [[Electoral results for the Division of Warringah#Elections in the 1990s|garnering more than 33% of the vote]] and providing a favourable swing of more than 5% for the ALP, Cannane lost to [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] stalwart [[Michael MacKellar]] who had held the seat since 1969. Despite beating Cannane, Mackellar resigned from parliament the following year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cole-Adams|first=Peter|date=22 January 1994|title=MacKellar to resign for private sector job|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126924104|work=The Canberra Times|location= |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> This triggered the [[1994 Warringah by-election]] where Labor didn't field a candidate, which was won by [[Tony Abbott]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=26 March 1994|title=Bishop and Abbott set for by-election wins|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118160338|work=The Canberra Times|location= |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> In 2008 Cannane said although running as a candidate in 1993 was fun at the time, he actually didn't hold any serious political aspirations and had long since moved on.<ref name=background/>

==Media career==
Cannane's first radio job was answering the phones during [[ABC Local Radio]]'s ''[[Nightlife (radio program)|Nightlife]]'' program, hosted by [[Tony Delroy]].<ref name=background/> It was there he was approached by the ABC to work at their youth network [[Triple J]] after writing a newspaper article where he opined the organisation wasn't providing sufficient on-air opportunities for young people.<ref name=background/>

He subsequently started work as a reporter for radio station Triple J's current affairs program, ''The Morning Show''. In 2003, after [[Francis Leach]] left the station, Cannane took on the position of host of the show. As a journalist, Cannane has an interest in exposing unscrupulous behaviour, having reported on child abuse within the [[Church of Scientology]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=Woman alleges imprisonment by Scientologists|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2904211.htm|publisher=Lateline|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> the harassment of the parents of a deceased child by the anti-vaccination lobby and the failure of the [[Therapeutic Goods Administration]] (TGA) to protect consumers from dodgy products.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=Homeopathy websites ignore retraction orders|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2867990.htm|publisher=Lateline|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

He temporarily presented breakfast on [[ABC Radio National]] while the regular presenter pursued other projects.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

Cannane was the founding presenter of Triple J's current affairs program, ''[[Hack (radio program)|Hack]]'', beginning in 2004.

In 2005, Cannane was accused of [[antisemitism]] by Liberal Party senator [[Santo Santoro]] who alleged at a senate committee hearing that Cannane had made reference to "those awful jews" in a November 2004 ''Hack'' interview about [[Mordechai Vanunu]].<ref name=jewish>{{cite news|last=Cavaanagh|first=Michael|date=27 May 2005|title=Senator forced to apolgise over "jew"|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263048751|work=[[The Australian Jewish News]]|location= |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> However, Santoro later apologised and said that he had been misinformed after a review of the transcript confirmed Cannane had put no such questions forward.<ref name=jewish/>

In 2006 he won the [[Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing]] for a series of three interviews - Petrol Sniffing, Pilltesting and The Cost of War. He was also commended in the same category of the Walkleys in 2005.

In 2006 Cannane won the Excellence in Alcohol and Drug Media Reporting Award<ref>{{cite web|last=Drug and Alcohol|first=National Awards|title=Excellence in alcohol and drug media reporting|url=http://www.drugawards.org.au/results/2006.html|publisher=National Drug and Alcohol Awards|access-date=11 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317132253/http://www.drugawards.org.au/results/2006.html|archive-date=17 March 2012}}</ref> at the National Drug and Alcohol Awards and visited the US as the Australian representative on the US Department of State's Edward R Murrow program for journalists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Department of State|first=United States|title=Edward R Murrow programme for journalists|url=http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/murrow.html|access-date=11 November 2012}}</ref>

In 2008, Cannane presented ''[[Triple J#Hack|The Hack Half Hour]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Low|first=Lenny|title=The department of youth|date=22 September 2008 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/the-department-of-youth/2008/09/20/1221331268372.html|publisher=The Age|access-date=11 November 2012}}</ref> on [[ABC2]].

In 2009, he fronted the ABC1 documentary series ''Whatever! The Science of Teenagers''<ref>{{cite web|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=Whatever! The Science of Teenagers|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/interactive/whatever/|publisher=ABC|access-date=11 November 2012}}</ref> and published a book, ''First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=First Tests, Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them|year=2010|publisher=ABC Books|isbn=9780733329067|url=http://shop.abc.net.au/products/first-tests-great-australian-cricketers-and-the-backyards-that-made-them-1}}</ref>

In July 2010, Cannane was appointed presenter of ABC News 24's ''The Drum'', a panel discussion program providing news and analysis on issues of the day.

Also in July 2010, Cannane broke the story of harassment of the parents of a child who died of whooping cough by the anti-vaccination lobby,<ref>{{cite web|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=Anti-vaccination group accused of harassing parents|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2951651.htm|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> the [[Australian Vaccination Network]] (AVN) on Lateline. His story was the first to expose the lobby group as callous and cruel, with revelations that their President Meryl Dorey, had sought to access medical records of the child as evidence she had died from a pertussis infection. The story also described a complaint about the AVN which was under investigation by the [[NSW Health Care Complaints Commission]] (HCCC), alleging the group disseminated misleading and dangerous health information regarding vaccination. The complaint was eventually upheld, resulting in revocation of the group's charity licence and the issuing of a public warning by the HCCC. Both these actions were overturned following a successful Supreme Court challenge by the AVN in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Anti-vaccine group wins court victory|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-24/anti-vaccine-group-wins-court-victory/3850682|work=ABC News|date=24 February 2012 |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

Cannane has continued to follow the AVN, most recently on ''[[The Drum (TV program)|The Drum]],'' discussing the appearance of Dorey at the [[woodford festival|Woodford Folk Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cannane|first=Steve|title=Anti-vaccination campaigner to speak at Woodford Folk Festival|website=[[YouTube]] |date=14 December 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=506fk1kskuo|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

In November 2010 he was recognised<ref>{{cite web|last=Skeptics|first=Australian|title=Skeptics' 2010 Awards|url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/news/skeptics-2010-awards/|publisher=Australian Skeptics|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> for "...his honest and diligent approach to journalism and the pursuit of truth in all of its aspects and wherever it may lead" at the Australian Skeptics National Convention where he was also a speaker.<ref>{{cite web|last=Skeptics|first=Australian|title=More TAM speakers|url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/more-tam-speakers/|publisher=Australian Skeptics|access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

He has worked as a reporter and fill in presenter on ABC1's late night news and current affairs program, ''[[Lateline]]'', presenter of ''[[The Drum (TV program)|The Drum]]'' on [[ABC News 24]] and has appeared on [[Network Ten|Ten's]] ''[[The Project (Australian TV program)|The 7pm Project]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/steve-cannane/ | title=Steve Cannane | access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref>

From April 2016 until July 2018, Cannane was ABC's Europe Correspondent, based in London before joining the ABC's Investigations Unit as a reporter.<ref name=bio/>

In May 2021, Cannane was named as the new chief of the ABC's Europe bureau.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Kevin|date=28 May 2021|title=Journalists STEVE CANNANE and ISABELLA HIGGINS named as new European correspondents for ABC News|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/05/28/journalists-steve-cannane-and-isabella-higgins-named-as-new-european-correspondents-for-abc-news/|work=TV Blackbox|location= |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

===Defamation case===
In September 2016, Cannane published ''Fair Game: The Incredible Untold Story of Scientology in Australia'', which prompted a defamation suit to be brought against Cannane and [[HarperCollins]] by doctors John Gill and John Herron who were involved in the [[Deep sleep therapy#Australian Chelmsford scandal|Australian Chelmsford deep sleep scandal]].<ref name=barry>{{cite news|last=Barry|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Barry|date=30 November 2020|title=A victory for truth: Journalist Steve Cannane wins an important victory in the defamation courts against two Chelmsford doctors|url=https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/cananne/12936084|work=[[Media Watch (TV program)|Media Watch]]|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|location= |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

In his book, Cannane referenced the [[Chelmsford Royal Commission]] which exposed practices which took place at the Chelmsford Private Hospital.<ref name=barry/> In 2018, HarperCollins unsuccessfully applied to have the case thrown out due to the unreasonable expectation of Cannane being required to prove the findings of the royal commission.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bachelard|first=Michael|date=2 December 2018|title=How a zombie case came back to life thanks to Australia's defamation law|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-a-zombie-case-came-back-to-life-thanks-to-australia-s-defamation-law-20181130-p50jfn.html|url-access=limited|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=holmes>{{cite web|url=https://abcalumni.net/2021/05/29/whos-to-judge|title=Who's To Judge? - Steve Cannane: The cost of victory|last=Holmes|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Holmes (journalist)|date=29 May 2021|website=ABC Alumni|publisher= |access-date=19 April 2022|quote=}}</ref>

After an eight-week trial which was held entirely on [[Microsoft Teams]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], the lawsuit was dismissed in late 2020 with Justice [[Jayne Jagot]] ruling in favour of Cannane and HarperCollins with Gill and Herron ordered to pay costs.<ref name=lane>{{cite news |last=Sainty|first=Lane|date=25 November 2020|title=Steve Cannane, HarperCollins didn't defame 'deep sleep therapy' doctors: court|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/steve-cannane-harpercollins-didnt-defame-deep-sleep-therapy-doctors-court/news-story/5018ad9d709d26abbab540262f2962ae|work=[[news.com.au]]|location= |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

According to Jagot, as a medical practitioner Herron "had no residual reputation to be protected" while she said Gill was "held in very low estimation by the relevant sector" prior to the release of Cannane's book.<ref name=barry/> Jagot also accused Herron and Gill of attempting to "rewrite history".<ref name=lane/> The judgement also stated that Cannane had established a defence of [[qualified privilege]].<ref name=lane/>

Gill and Herron appealed the decision to the full Federal Court in August 2021 because they believed the use 26 year old reports prepared by dead expert witnesses from a Royal Commission doesn't contribute to a fair trial upon their behalf.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |first=Steve |last=Zemek |date=August 23, 2021 |title=Doctors appeal Scientology book defamation judgment in Federal Court |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/doctors-appeal-scientology-book-defamation-judgment-in-federal-court/news-story/95aae5869d815e31c0e4f0a51996b226 }}</ref> Additionally Gill and Herron's appeal also relied upon the idea that Cannane and HarperCollins should not have been granted qualified privilege as a defence against defamation.<ref name="Whitbourn">{{Cite web |last=Whitbourn |first=Michaela |date=2022-04-29 |title=Chelmsford doctor wins appeal over defamation decision |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/chelmsford-doctor-wins-appeal-over-defamation-decision-20220429-p5ah6o.html |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, the Federal Court heard the appeal and unanimously agreed that, contrary to Justice Jagot's original findings, Cannane's defence of qualified privilege was not justified and therefore would not be available to him and HarperCollins as a defence against defamation.<ref name="Whitbourn"/> The Federal Court of appeal, consisting of justices Steven Rares, Michael Lee and Micheal Wigney, agreed unanimously that fundamental errors were made in the original trial by Jagot and that this would in turn justify a retrial. The Federal Court's main contention with Jagot's original findings was that they primarily relied upon multiple Royal Commission expert reports prepared by doctors who are now deceased.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lavaine |first=Scarlette De |date=2022-06-02 |title=Case Summary {{!}} Former Chelmsford GP wins appeal overturning Federal Court defamation decision on untested deceased experts' reports |url=https://www.pmlawyers.com.au/blog/2022/06/health-blog/case-summary-former-chelmsford-gp-wins-appeal-overturning-federal-court-defamation-decision-on-untested-deceased-experts-reports/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Panetta McGrath Lawyers |language=en-AU}}</ref> All three judges took issue with the fact that the expert witnesses who authored the reports used in the Royal Commission and then later in Cannane's defamation trial were not available for [[cross examination]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Doctor wins appeal over Chelmsford claims |url=https://7news.com.au/news/crime/doctor-wins-appeal-over-chelmsford-claims-c-6620674 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}</ref> Additionally the expert witness who authored the reports did not state with clarity or even at all, the facts and assumptions on which their decisions were based. Furthermore, they failed to elaborate upon the process of reasoning they used when writing said reports.<ref name=":1" /> The appeal additionally dismissed Jagot's ruling that Cannane's writings would fall under qualified privilege as a defence against defamation.<ref name=":0" /> Cannane was of the belief that he would not be able to obtain an accurate account of events from Mr John Herron and or Dr John Gill, however all three justices agreed that this didn't make it reasonable upon Cannane's and HarperCollins' behalf to completely disregard their account of what occurred. The Federal Court stated that Mr Cannane had made a deliberate choice not to obtain and include an account told from Dr Gill and Mr Herron's view.<ref name=":1" />

Following the Federal Court ruling, Cannane and HarperCollins appealed to the [[High Court of Australia]] in an attempt to get the Federal Court's findings overturned. The case for appeal was heard by the High Court of Australia on 17 February 2023. The High Court denied Cannane and HarperCollins' application for an appeal of the Federal Court's findings. Therefore, in the upcoming retrial Cannane and HarperCollins are unable to use qualified privilege and the Royal Commission reports to defend themselves against the claim of defamation against Dr Gill and Mr Herron.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=2023-02-17 |title=HarperCollins refused appeal in defamation case over claims made in Scientology book |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/17/harpercollins-refused-appeal-in-defamation-case-over-claims-made-in-scientology-book |access-date=2023-02-17 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannane, Steve}}
[[Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters]]
[[Category:ABC radio (Australia) journalists and presenters]]
[[Category:Walkley Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Triple J announcers]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1970 births]]

Steve Cannane - Revision history

imported>Plantbaseddiet: Source