UPDATE: In a high-stakes defamation trial unfolding in Darwin, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is facing serious allegations of defaming Lesley Turner, the chief executive of the Central Land Council. The court session, which took place on Tuesday, is drawing significant attention as it highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding the senator’s actions.
JUST ANNOUNCED: The court heard testimony describing Senator Price as an “evasive witness” who made “illogical and self-serving” claims during her defense. This trial stems from a July 2024 media release where she alleged a failed no-confidence motion against Mr. Turner and accused him of neglecting impoverished Aboriginal communities living in dire conditions.
In her closing remarks, Mr. Turner’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, asserted that Senator Price’s actions were deliberate attempts to tarnish Mr. Turner’s reputation. “She sought to tarnish my client’s reputation, and she has done so,” Ms. Chrysanthou stated, emphasizing that the senator ignored corrections from the Central Land Council shortly after the release was issued on July 11.
The central question now remains: Did Senator Price act recklessly by disseminating potentially defamatory statements? Ms. Chrysanthou argued that the senator continued to promote these claims through social media and interviews, despite being informed of their inaccuracies. “Her evidence was often evasive and filled with baseless allegations,” she added.
At the heart of the allegations is a men-only council meeting held on July 18, 2024, where Mr. Palmer discussed removing Mr. Turner. While publicly claiming a motion to oust him existed, the council later refuted this, according to media reports. The implications of Senator Price’s statements, Ms. Chrysanthou argued, were damaging to Mr. Turner’s integrity, leaving the public to wonder about the nature of his alleged misconduct.
The defense, represented by Peter Gray SC, contended that the actual audience for the senator’s statements was likely minimal, questioning the impact of her release in light of concurrent media coverage by the NT News and ABC. “Mr. Turner gave highly emotive testimony but downplayed the significant impact of other publications,” Gray claimed, suggesting an “air of unreality” in Mr. Turner’s evidence.
Senator Price’s legal team maintained that she relied on her staff’s expertise to prepare the media release and argued there was a legitimate public interest in the matter, allowing for prompt publication as long as reasonable care was taken.
As the trial progresses, Justice Michael Wheelahan has reserved his decision, leaving both sides awaiting the outcome in a case that could have significant implications for public figures and media accountability.
This developing story continues to captivate attention as the court deliberates on the ramifications of the senator’s statements. Stay tuned for updates as this case unfolds, revealing the complexities of defamation law and its impact on public discourse.
