Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli has threatened legal action against South Australian Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels after she criticised his company for withdrawing a $3.5 million house prize from Murray Bridge mother Donna, 54.
Michaels described the situation as “terrible” and said Portelli’s business was under investigation for operating without an SA licence.
Portelli’s lawyer, Omar Juweinat, accused Michaels of making defamatory claims, saying her remarks implied Portelli had “knowingly solicited money from South Australians despite being unlicensed” and acted improperly.
He said the competition terms “made clear that South Australians were ineligible to win” and argued her “sweeping, sensational claims” had caused a “misinformed media storm.”
While the prize will be redrawn, Portelli said he would contact Donna to “do something for her”.
Michaels countered that he had created an “awful situation for the South Australian woman” but emphasised, “There is nothing stopping Mr Portelli… from gifting Donna a house – or something else of equivalent value.”
Donna, informed of her win during a livestream, later said “a better life” had been “taken away from me” and told local media she was “shaking” when Portelli called her personally.
Ms Michaels’ office told The Advertiser the minister would not comment on Mr Portelli’s comments and legal threat.
Source: The Advertiser
