The Greek Herald has been made aware of a letter circulated in recent days to members of Cyprus Community Club of NSW Limited, claiming to have been prepared by lawyers acting for Dr Costas Costa at XD Law, in connection with current Federal Court proceedings.
The letter outlines matters relating to Dr Costa’s application in the Federal Court, including his challenge to the voluntary administration of Cyprus Community of N.S.W. (Holdings) Limited. It further asserts that misinformation is being deliberately spread in relation to the proceedings and makes claims about media reporting, including references to The Greek Herald.
In that communication, Dr Costa claims that this publication has a conflict of interest and has accepted payment in exchange for favourable or advertorial-style coverage. Such claims imply that The Greek Herald’s reporting is influenced by commercial arrangements rather than independent journalistic judgment.
The Greek Herald rejects those claims. The publication has never accepted payment for editorial coverage of litigation or court proceedings involving the Cyprus Community of NSW, Cyprus Community of N.S.W. (Holdings) Limited, or any related entities. All reporting on these matters has been undertaken independently, based on court documents, verified sources and established reporting standards, and in the public interest.
As a community newspaper with a 100-year history, The Greek Herald has, under various leaderships of the Cyprus Community of NSW, carried advertising for cultural programs, educational initiatives and community events. Such advertising is clearly distinguished from editorial content and has never extended to the reporting of legal proceedings, court actions or factional disputes.
Member concerns and use of contact information
Since the circulation of the letter, The Greek Herald has been contacted by a number of community members expressing concern about both the content of the communication and the use of their personal contact details to distribute legal and campaign material of this nature. Members have questioned how their details were accessed and whether membership information should be used in this way.
The letter circulated to members includes an appeal for financial contributions to support Dr Costa’s legal action, directing recipients to an online fundraising platform and inviting donations to assist with legal costs associated with the Federal Court proceedings.
The Cyprus Community of NSW is investigating how members’ private contact details, including their places of residence, were accessed and used.
“While there are circumstances where membership information can be used appropriately, the Community does not accept unauthorised or improper use, including sending unsolicited communications,” the Community said. “Improper use of a public register is a serious matter.”
Under Australian law, access to a company’s register of members is subject to restrictions, and information obtained from the register may only be used for a proper purpose related to membership. Use of membership information for purposes such as fundraising, campaigning or soliciting donations may be considered improper. A person seeking access to the register is required to state their identity and purpose, and access may be refused where that purpose is improper. Providing false or misleading information to obtain access to a register, or misuse of members’ private contact details, can attract significant penalties, fines and civil liability.
The Greek Herald understands that the Community has no record of any application by Dr Costa to access the members’ register, and that it remains unclear how members’ private contact details were obtained or whether those details were accessed or shared without authorisation.
Legal advice is being sought, and the matter will be referred to the relevant authorities, the Community said.
Long-running litigation and public campaigns
As extensively reported by The Greek Herald over many years, the Cyprus Community dispute has been characterised by a prolonged pattern of litigation across multiple jurisdictions, accompanied by repeated public campaigns directed at members, stakeholders and media outlets.
The Greek Herald has reported in detail on Supreme Court proceedings, receivership and administration processes, creditor meetings and, most recently, the Federal Court application. That reporting has been widely relied upon by community members seeking to understand the legal, financial and governance implications of an increasingly complex dispute.
The litigation involving the Cyprus Community and related entities has carried significant financial consequences. The Greek Herald understands that litigation brought in 2025 by Cyprus Capital and individuals including Dr Costa and his sister, Ms Dorothy Bassil, resulted in an estimated $2.1 million in legal costs in that year alone, incurred by the Community in defending those proceedings, in addition to legal action initiated by the same parties in previous years, with further costs also incurred.
Impact on journalists and reporting
During the course of its coverage of the Cyprus Community matters, The Greek Herald journalists and staff have experienced sustained harassment in connection with their reporting, including hostile conduct at public meetings and ongoing email correspondence. As a result, some journalists have requested that their names not be attached to articles relating to the proceedings as a protective measure.
At a creditor meeting previously reported by The Greek Herald, an incident occurred involving a member of the publication’s team, witnessed by multiple attendees, underscoring ongoing concerns for staff safety when covering these matters.
The publication considers it important for readers to understand this context when assessing attempts to discredit or undermine independent reporting.
The Greek Herald stands by its recent article, “Fresh Federal Court Challenge Filed as Cyprus Community Legal Dispute Continues,” published on 16 January 2026, and by its broader coverage of the Cyprus Community dispute over an extended period.
The publication will continue to report on developments as matters progress, including court proceedings and issues of public and community significance.
