Jacinta Price defamation case: Liberal senator gives evidence

Chrysanthou asked if he still believed that, having heard the evidence at trial and read the documents in the case.

Price said he believed Palmer “claimed to have the support of individuals who made up the vast majority of those in attendance” and “voted with them in mind.”

“Do you know what the game is?” asked Chrysanthou.

“Yes,” Price said.

“You’re a politician. You know what voting is, right? What’s your understanding of what voting is?” Chrysanthou pressed.

“As you sit here now, do you accept that there was no vote in the Central Land Council to dismiss my client?”

“I accept there was no formal vote,” Price said.

Asked if he accepted that “there was no vote at all” based on the ordinary English meaning of the word vote, Price said, “I accept.”

Asked how it made sense to him that a majority of CLC members may have voted to sack Turner but that the motion failed, Price suggested there may have been “other reasons”.

In documents filed with the court, Turner said the press release included a number of false and defamatory allegations about him, including that he “no longer enjoys the support of the majority of members of the Central Land Council due to his unprofessional conduct in this role”.

Price acknowledges that this claim was made and does not attempt to prove it is true. Instead, it seeks to rely on the defense of qualified privilege, which protects some broadcasts that are in the public interest where the broadcaster acted reasonably. In this case, reasonableness is expected to be the most important battleground.

Peter Gray, acting for Price, told the court that the failure to contact Turner before the media published his statement showed there was no reasonable failure.

“Did you consider asking him what his answer was… Didn’t you think it would be fair?” asked Chrysanthou.

“Not necessarily,” Price said.

Price said the case “could cost me my seat in parliament” if he loses and becomes bankrupt because he cannot pay compensation and legal costs.

Under Article 44 of the Australian ConstitutionIt is not possible for members who are not bankrupt or bankrupt to take part in the parliament.

Price launched a crowdfunding campaign for his legal bills earlier this year. In September, he revealed in parliament’s register of interests that Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, had contributed to the legal fund through her company, Hancock Prospecting. Price confirmed that he had reached his fundraising goal of $320,000.

“I only publish what I believe to be true,” Price said in his testimony Friday.

Chrysanthou agreed: “Are you good at publicly admitting you’re wrong, Senator?”