Share Taxpayers have been saddled with a $780,000 bill over Industry Minister Christian Porter’s defamation action against the ABC, including a $100,000 payment to Mr Porter’s lawyers covering costs. ABC managing director David Anderson said the impost could have been much greater if Mr Porter had not withdrawn his lawsuit following mediation, with the cost of a three-week trial estimated at up to $1.5 million if it had gone ahead. Appearing before a Senate budget estimates committee on Monday, Mr Anderson also revealed Mr Porter had made two earlier offers to settle the case which were rejected by the ABC. ABC general counsel Connie Carnabuci and managing director David Anderson during a Senate hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday.