Australian witness praises Leveson report

MORE than seven years after becoming embroiled in a phone hacking scandal that rocked the world's media, Australian woman Mary-Ellen Field has welcomed a British report into the affair.

The former business adviser to fashionista Elle Macpherson was one of 184 witnesses - including politicians and celebrities - to give evidence to the independent Leveson Inquiry, probing the culture, practice and ethics of the press.

Justice Brian Leveson on Thursday called for a new media regulatory system backed by law, including fines of up to STG1 million ($A1.5 million) for breaches.

"I think he's done an excellent job," Field told AAP from Sydney after hearing Justice Leveson's recommendations.

"There has been a lot of scaremongering about imposing statutory regulations ... and I would prefer there wasn't any, but (regulation) doesn't work otherwise. It has to have some mechanism to force (the press) to behave."

After some two years working together, Macpherson in 2005 called Field an alcoholic and blamed her for leaking personal stories to the press while drunk, leading to the end of the pair's relationship.

Now the head of a brand valuation company, Field was labelled an "innocent bystander" by Justice Leveson.

He wrote in the report that Field was among a sideline group "who are not even targeted or explicitly written about but become collateral damage because of the suspicions generated by subterfuge".

In her evidence to the inquiry on November 22, 2011, Field outlined the damage to her reputation and livelihood as the consequence of what she believed to be the hacking of Macpherson's voicemail.

"The inquiry has restored my reputation. As soon as I gave evidence I had past clients come forward and say 'why didn't you tell us?'. But it's tough to say, 'people are lying about me being a drunk'," Field said.

"It's seven years last Saturday since I was accused of doing this and really, the battle has only just begun. But it's in a part of my head now where I don't obsess about it. The truth is out there. We're on the right track."

Field filed a claim against News Group Newspapers - the Rupert Murdoch-owned operator of the former News of the World newspaper - in March 2011 and is legally prevented from speaking about the ongoing matter.

Macpherson's representatives were contacted for comment.

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