Kerry Stokes

Count 1 — Komatsu photo ban: Current and former journalists at The West Australian have consistently reported a standing editorial instruction: do not publish photographs of Komatsu trucks operating in West Australian mines. Komatsu is the direct Japanese competitor to Caterpillar equipment, sold exclusively in WA and NSW by WesTrac — a subsidiary of Seven Group Holdings, the parent of Seven West Media. Publishing Komatsu equipment in The West Australian would advertise a competitor to WesTrac's core product in the only paper those customers read. The ban was unwritten. It was understood. Count 2 — Fortescue retaliation: In early 2023, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) ended its equipment supply arrangement with WesTrac and began shifting its mining fleet toward electrification. What followed: The West Australian ran a sustained series of negative stories targeting FFI's green energy operations. Fortescue CEO Mark Hutchinson formally complained to federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, alleging coordinated negative coverage driven by Stokes' commercial interests. A University of Sydney analysis described the stoush as evidence that "Australia has one of the most concentrated media ownership structures in the world."

• —The West Australian is the only major daily newspaper in Perth. Its publisher is Seven West Media.
• —Seven West Media is 41% owned by Seven Group Holdings (ASX: SVW).
• —Seven Group Holdings owns WesTrac (100%) — the exclusive Caterpillar dealer in WA and NSW.
• —WesTrac's primary customers are WA iron ore, coal, lithium, and nickel miners.
• —The Komatsu photo ban: a standing unwritten instruction at The West Australian not to photograph Komatsu trucks operating in WA mines. Reported by current and former journalists.
• —Komatsu is Caterpillar's direct Japanese competitor.
• —2023: Fortescue Future Industries ended WesTrac supply arrangement, began fleet electrification.
• —The West Australian ran sustained negative coverage of FFI's green energy operations.
• —Fortescue CEO Mark Hutchinson complained to federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
• —University of Sydney, March 2023: "Australia has one of the most concentrated media ownership structures in the world."
• —A Perth mayor has described Stokes as "the man who really runs the state."

Ben Roberts-Smith, a former SAS soldier, Victoria Cross recipient, and Seven Network employee, sued the publishers of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times in 2018 over reporting that alleged he had murdered unarmed Afghan civilians and kicked a detainee off a cliff. Kerry Stokes' private investment company, Australian Capital Equity, extended approximately A$2 million in financing to Roberts-Smith to fund his legal case — with Roberts-Smith reportedly offering his Victoria Cross as collateral. Total legal expenditure on the case reached an estimated A$35 million, with Stokes-aligned entities bearing the majority. In June 2023, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smith's claim. The court found, on the balance of probabilities, that the reporting was substantially true: Roberts-Smith had murdered Afghan civilians, carried out unlawful killings, and engaged in conduct constituting war crimes. Stokes was ordered to pay A$13.5 million in legal costs to the defendant newspapers. After the judgment, Stokes attacked the journalists as "scumbags" at a public event and offered no apology for having funded the campaign.

• —Ben Roberts-Smith: former SAS soldier, Victoria Cross recipient, Seven Network employee.
• —2018: Roberts-Smith sued The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Canberra Times publishers over war crimes reporting.
• —Australian Capital Equity (Stokes' private vehicle): extended ~A$2 million to Roberts-Smith to fund his legal case.
• —Reported collateral: Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal.
• —Total legal spend on the case: estimated A$35 million. Stokes-aligned entities bore the majority.
• —June 2023: Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smith's claim.
• —Court finding: on the balance of probabilities, Roberts-Smith murdered Afghan civilians and committed war crimes.
• —Stokes ordered to pay A$13.5 million in legal costs to defendant newspapers.
• —Post-judgment: Stokes called the journalists "scumbags" at a public event. No apology.

Count 1 — Pauline Hanson rehabilitation: Seven Network's Sunrise morning program gave Pauline Hanson — leader of the far-right nationalist One Nation party — repeated paid on-air appearances in the years following her political rehabilitation in the mid-2010s. These appearances provided One Nation with a mainstream national platform at zero cost to the party, rehabilitating a politician whose policy platform includes dismantling native title protections, restricting immigration, opposing climate legislation, and reducing union power. Count 2 — Bruce Lehrmann payments: Seven Network paid over A$100,000 in fees, accommodation, and expenses for exclusive interview access to Bruce Lehrmann — a man accused of sexually assaulting a former Liberal staffer, whose first trial collapsed due to juror misconduct. Seven funded his rent and travel as part of the arrangement. A subsequent defamation case by Lehrmann against Network Ten found that the balance of probabilities supported that he had committed the sexual assault. Stokes' network had been his paid host and financial backer throughout.

• —Sunrise (Seven Network): repeated paid on-air appearances for Pauline Hanson, One Nation leader.
• —One Nation platform: dismantling native title, restricting immigration, opposing climate action, reducing union power.
• —Platform access: national mainstream morning television — provided at no cost to One Nation.
• —Bruce Lehrmann: accused of sexually assaulting Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.
• —First trial collapsed due to juror misconduct.
• —Seven Network paid over A$100,000: fees, accommodation, travel expenses for exclusive interview.
• —Seven also funded Lehrmann's rent during the arrangement.
• —Subsequent defamation judgment: Federal Court found, on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann had committed the assault.
• —Seven's arrangement with Lehrmann preceded and continued during the period of active legal proceedings.

Seven West Media claimed A$47 million in JobKeeper wage subsidy payments during the December 2020 half-year — Australia's pandemic wage subsidy program, designed to prevent mass unemployment among businesses that could not survive without assistance. Seven West Media reported profitable results in the same period. Unlike many companies that voluntarily repaid JobKeeper after public pressure, Seven West Media kept the A$47 million. Kerry Stokes personally received A$7.5 billion in wealth accretion during the pandemic period (2020–2022), primarily from the appreciation of Seven Group Holdings' mining services and property assets. The subsidy was legal to claim; the refusal to return it was a choice. No charges were filed.

• —JobKeeper: Australian government pandemic wage subsidy — intended for businesses unable to survive without support.
• —Seven West Media claimed A$47 million in JobKeeper for the December 2020 half-year.
• —Seven West Media reported profitable results in the same period.
• —Many Australian companies voluntarily repaid JobKeeper after public pressure. Seven West Media did not.
• —Kerry Stokes: A$7.5 billion in personal wealth accretion during the 2020–2022 pandemic period.
• —No charges filed. The claim was legal under the terms of the program.
• —The refusal to return public funds while profitable and while the program's intended beneficiaries suffered — was a deliberate choice.