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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Abbie Chatfield agreed to a Federal Court judgment requiring her to pay former friend Heath Kelley $79,000 in damages, according to reports published on 9 and 10 October 2025. The reports describe a judgment by consent—not a contested trial verdict—and do not establish that Chatfield was ordered to “admit” defamation. PerthNow separately estimated legal costs at about $30,000; that figure was not confirmed as a final assessment.
What happened between Abbie Chatfield and Heath Kelley?
Kelley’s defamation claim followed Instagram Stories Chatfield published on 7 May 2025, according to the Australian Associated Press (AAP). The Stories included private messages exchanged after Kelley sent Chatfield a video about then-Greens leader Adam Bandt. Kelley alleged that the posts portrayed him as supporting genocide and the killing of children. Those descriptions were allegations in his claim, not findings reached after a contested trial. AAP’s report on the claim
In its 9 October 2025 report, PerthNow said Chatfield did not contest the claim and that Justice Wendy Abraham made orders against her by consent. Mediaweek reported the following day that Chatfield had agreed to a $79,000 consent payout. Together, the reports describe an agreed judgment, rather than a decision after a trial in which the parties contested the evidence. PerthNow, 9 October 2025; Mediaweek, 10 October 2025
Was Chatfield forced to admit she defamed Kelley?
The available reports support saying that Chatfield agreed to judgment by consent and did not contest Kelley’s claim. They do not establish that she made a separate admission, or that a judge determined the disputed meaning of her posts after hearing contested evidence. “Forced to admit” therefore overstates what the reported outcome shows.
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AAP’s report before the resolution quoted Kelley’s lawyer, Paul Svilans, saying: “Our client does not, and never has, supported genocide or the slaughter of children.” That is the position attributed to Kelley and his lawyer, not a judicial finding. AAP’s report on the claim
How much did Chatfield have to pay?
| Amount or order | What the reports say |
|---|---|
| Damages: $79,000 | Reported by PerthNow and Mediaweek as the damages or consent payout. PerthNow; Mediaweek |
| Legal costs: about $30,000 | PerthNow estimated costs at approximately this amount. Mediaweek instead reported that costs were ordered “as agreed or assessed”; the estimate is not verified as the final amount. PerthNow; Mediaweek |
The damages figure and the costs estimate are distinct. The reports establish the reported $79,000 damages amount, but do not establish the ultimate costs assessment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is not established about the court orders?
The final Federal Court order wording and any final costs assessment could not be independently verified. The accessible court-book PDF was not available to confirm those details. The safest account is therefore limited to what PerthNow and Mediaweek reported: a consent judgment involving $79,000 in damages, with costs described differently by the two outlets. Federal Court court-book search result
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