Hockey to front defamation trial against Fairfax

Treasurer Joe Hockey will take the stand when his defamation case against Fairfax Media goes to trial early next year.

Mr Hockey is suing the media giant in the Federal Court over a series of stories in their flagship newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times in May under the headline "Treasurer for sale".

The stories examined a political fundraising body in Mr Hockey's electorate known as the North Sydney Forum, where members who paid an annual fee were able to meet with the treasurer at special events.

Mr Hockey's lawyers claim the stories imputed the treasurer "accepted bribes paid to influence the decisions he made as treasurer" or that he was "prepared to accept bribes" or that he "corruptly solicited payments".

Fairfax Media is defending the case, saying it was in the public interest to publish details about the forum.

The Federal Court on Tuesday heard Mr Hockey will give evidence at the judge-alone trial in March next year.