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Posted on 07/18/2002 7:58:50 AM PDT by xp38

SYDNEY -- A cigarette that Russell Crowe smoked on Australian television has sparked a legal battle.

The Nine Network yesterday argued in Sydney's Federal Court against a ruling by Australia's broadcasting watchdog that the network breached a ban on cigarette advertising when it allowed Crowe to light up a cigarette on its 60 Minutes program in October 2000.

Part of the interview was replayed the following week after viewers criticized Crowe -- who was nominated for an Oscar for playing a tobacco industry whistleblower in The Insider -- for his smoking habit.

The Australian Broadcasting Authority may fine media organizations that breach the act, but chose not to do so in this case and instead recorded the incident in a report.

However, Nine Network lawyer John Griffiths told the court that the original finding was "perverse and irrational" and the authority should be ordered to reconsider its ruling.

Nine had discouraged rather than encouraged smoking when it referred in the interview to the movie star's habit as "weakness to the demon weed," Griffiths said. The judge will make a ruling today.

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