A prominent political commentator has unleashed on a Sydney professor for 'hiding her apology' to him after a $200,000 legal row was sparked by her nine-word-tweet.
University of NSW Professor Gemma Carey commented on a throwback photo of Christian Porter and his university mates and referred to the women in the snap.
The former attorney general was seen with Ten's political editor Peter van Onselen and his wife Ainslie, and former Australian deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth during their days at the University of Western Australia.
The 20-year-old photo showed the long-time friends in black tie and evening wear at a formal night out, along with a second woman and several other men.
Her nine-word jibe has since sparked three threats of defamation actions from Mr Porter and Professor van Onselen who now claims she has 'removed' her apology.
Professor Gemma Carey has gone to ground after sparking a legal row with a nine word tweet about an old picture of Christian Porter (left) and his university mates Dr Nick Coastworth (centre, left) and Professor Peter van Onselen, centre right with wife Ainslie, centre
A legal furore broke out after University of New South Wales Professor Gemma Carey (pictured with husband Ben O'Mara) made her nine word comment on the pic
The prominent political commentator claimed Ms Carey has removed her public apology from Twitter, after the professor deleted her account on the platform.
He reposted screenshots of her original apology on his own Twitter account, sparking a mixed reaction from social media users.
The professor claimed under 'the terms of the requirement' the professor had been asked to 'pin' the original apology on her Twitter page.
'Because Gemma Carey has removed her Twitter account (no doubt she'll be back, the attention will be craved) doing so has removed her apologies to both my wife and me for her utterly unprofessional and appallingly defamatory tweets,' he said.
'So here is the apology, for the record'.
Political editor Peter van Onselen has claimed Ms Carey was going against the 'terms of the requirement' when she deleted her Twitter account, and her public apology (pictured)
One Twitter user asked Prof Onselen's tweet whey there is a need to still
One user questioned Prof Onselen's need to post screenshots of her apology.
'Why? She's apologised to you (possibly under duress), just let it go. We know Prof Carey has done what you demanded. Maybe try and be a better citizen and move on,' the man replied to the tweet.
'Better citizen... I'm so sorry she defamed me, my apologies, my fault,' the commentator responded.
Another user asked why Prof Onselen's wanted the issue to 'remain in the public eye'.
'If I were defamed I would want the matter over with ASAP,' they wrote.
'For what it's worth, the terms of the requirement included her pinning the tweet. She's instead deleted her account, so I've pinned it. No biggie, but no apology either. I don't apologise for being defamed,' the political editor responded.
Prof Gemma Carey (pictured here with husband Ben O'Mara) is one of five cases a GoFundMe campaign is raising money for to fight defamation threats from politicians
Prof Carey's nine-word tweet came in the wake of Mr Porter's resignation from Cabinet in September over his defamation lawsuit against the ABC after he identified himself as the man accused of an historic rape.
Mr Porter has vehemently denied the allegations that date back to 1988 when he was 17.
Van Onselen, 45, came under fire at the time for supporting his long-time friend - who introduced the TV analyst to his wife.
Prof Carey was hit with three legal notices in one email after making the jibe.
The notices all arrived in the same email from the same high-profile lawyer, Rebekah Giles, who has previously represented Mr Porter, as well as Brittany Higgins and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
She was sent concerns notices - which often precede defamation actions - on behalf of Mr Porter (left), Prof van Onselen (right, with wife Ainslie) and Queensland MP Andrew Laming
Former Australian deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth, 43, (pictured) was not part of the legal action
Prof Carey has now deleted her original tweet and publicly apologised to Mr Porter and Prof van Onselen for her reply about the photograph. Dr Coatsworth has not been involved in the legal row.
'On 24th October 2021, I commented on a photograph of Peter van Onselen when he was at university with others & that comment was completely inappropriate & highly offensive and I should never have published it,' she tweeted.
'It has now been deleted and I unconditionally withdraw my comment and apologise to Mr van Onselen for
