In a joint Fairfax/ABC investigation last year, Wendy Dent said Mr Burke told her she would have to audition for his popular Burke's Backyard show topless.

The Fairfax story read: "Months later, when she had moved to Sydney, Ms Dent took up Burke's offer to audition for the show. Over the phone Burke was flattering, telling Ms Dent she had "real charisma" and great potential.

"'You definitely have got what it takes for TV,' he told her and, what's more, he was 'the No. 1 in the business' and he could make it happen.

"He said 'well, you'll have to audition, but you'll have to be topless'."

In a subsequent television interview on Channel 9's A Current Affair, Mr Burke denied the allegations.

In documents filed to the ACT Supreme Court, Ms Dent says Mr Burke's interview suggests she lied about the topless audition and that she made false allegations motivated by her wish to join a witch hunt.

In defence documents filed to the court, Mr Burke denies that he told Ms Dent she would have to audition topless.

Mr Burke will defend the imputations Ms Dent alleges to have been conveyed on the basis they are true, and were made under both a statutory and a common law privilege.

Of the privilege, Mr Burke says the interview was a reply to attacks made by Ms Dent on him and that the interview was published on a subject of public interest and that he was reasonable in the circumstances.

Channel 9 is not being sued.