Opinion

The Federal Court has dialled back a controversial rule change restricting public access to new cases, but the latest procedure is a laughable attempt to retreat from the attack on open justice and should make even litigants nervous.

The Murray Goulburn class action has been cited repeatedly in the current parliamentary inquiry into class actions and litigation funding. For some, the return generated by Omni Bridgeway, which funded the action, is Exhibit A in the case that litigation funders make too much money. To others – including the one person in the best position to judge – it is nothing of the sort, says Clive Bowman of Omni Bridgeway.