Michael West Media is being sued by BHP, The Big Australian, for our reporting on the case of injured coal miner Simon Turner.
At the centre of the fight are questions of public interest journalism, confidentiality orders, labour hire, coal mining, and whether a $300 billion corporate giant should be using the courts against a small independent media outlet.
Michael West breaks down the claim, the role of BHP’s lawyers Minter Ellison, the long running story of Simon Turner, and why MWM is preparing to fight back, possibly with the inaugural BHP Ball and Minter Ellison Press Freedom Oration.
Support us ❤️ https://www.patreon.com/thewestreport
Our Journalism 📰 https://michaelwest.com.au
Merch 👕 https://lonelykidsclub.com/collections/michael-west
Linktree 🌐 https://linktr.ee/michaelwestmedia.com.au
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Articles mentioned
Simon’s story
Black Hole: CFMEU, governments, BHP, black coal giants in $2.5B worker wage swindle
Black Hole: CFMEU, governments, BHP, black coal giants in $2.5B worker wage swindle
Same Job, Lame Pay: BHP and the black coal wage swindle
BHP wage theft cover-up in the shadows of Christmas
BHP’s big wage theft unveiled, the whistleblower and the coal miner
BHP’s big wage theft unveiled – the whistleblower and the coal miner
David v the Goliaths. Lone coal miner tackles BHP & co in Court over massive wage theft
David v the Goliaths. Lone coal miner tackles BHP & co in Court over massive wage theft
Is BHP making wild accusations about “wild accusations”?
Wild Accusations. BHP has even its own evidence muzzled by Court
Wild Accusations. BHP has even its own evidence muzzled by Court
Judge takes pity on BHP in case against injured coal miner
Hoodwinked. How BHP bulldozed a coal miner in court
David v Goliath. Court gets real evidence from miner v BHP by accident
David v Goliath. Court gets real evidence from miner v BHP by accident
Behind the coal miner v BHP, 20,000 miners and a bunch of giant mining corporations
Behind the coal miner v BHP – 20,000 miners and a bunch of giant mining corporations
BHP threatens coal miner for leaking in David v Goliath court stoush
BHP threatens coal miner for leaking in David v Goliath court stoush
BHP is suing us. Here is the File Number.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Chapters
00:00 BHP sues MWM
01:13 The BHP Ball
02:08 Simon Turner’s story
06:02 Mike to Mike
08:52 More legal threats
09:51 Support independent media
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.




