One of the two expected biographies of James Packer has been put on hold after a threat of legal action from the billionare.
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Fairfax Media's The Australian Financial Review journalist Aaron Patrick had been due to publish a biography about the casino mogul.
But in a tweet on Wednesday morning, Mr Patrick announced the project was on "indefinite hold" claiming there had been a threat of legal action.
"Due to the threat of legal action by Mr Packer my publisher and I have decided to place the biography of him on indefinite hold. He's a complex and interesting man and I look forward to reading the authorised account," he said.
Due to the threat of legal action by Mr Packer my publisher and I have decided to place the biography of him on indefinite hold. He's a complex and interesting man and I look forward to reading the authorised account.??? Aaron Patrick (@apatrickafr) December 12, 2017
The unauthorised account was described by Mr Patrick in a column as having the tentative titleThe Curse of the Mogul.
Mr Patrick had written extensively on the billionaire and called out favouritism from Mr Packer, who gave an exclusive interview to a rival paper, News Corp's The Australian, in October.
News Corp's co-chairman is Lachlan Murdoch, who is also a friend of Mr Packer.
A second competing title is still expected to be published, by a journalist from The Australian that will be behind this competing title.
Sources have confirmed that the writer will be Melbourne-based business editor Damon Kitney who has a long history of reporting on Mr Packer.
A spokesperson for Mr Packer declined to comment.
Jennifer Duke
More to come
