Qld taxpayers cop bill for Newman comments

Queensland taxpayers footed a $100,000 bill to defend former premier Campbell Newman and his attorney-general in a defamation case that was ultimately abandoned.

Gold Coast solicitors Chris and Daniel Hannay sued Mr Newman and Jarrod Bleijie for more than $1 million at the height of their war on bikies, over comments they made about lawyers who represent gang members.

The ABC says documents obtained under freedom of information reveal taxpayers copped a $100,000 bill for the pair's aborted legal defence, with the state ultimately funding a $520,000 settlement with the solicitors.