UPDATE: Tensions escalate as Central Land Council chief executive Lesley Turner is suing Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price for defamation over explosive claims regarding his ousting. The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court, centers on a July 2024 media release from Price, which falsely suggested a no-confidence motion had been passed against Turner.
Turner expressed profound hurt during a court session on Thursday, revealing how the senator’s remarks have intensified the situation. “Senator Nampijinpa Price was escalating the issue more, which was unfair and hurtful,” he stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of the allegations.
The controversy ignited at a men-only council meeting on July 18, 2024, where council chair Matthew Palmer purportedly discussed Turner’s removal. While Palmer claimed there was a motive to oust Turner, the council later refuted these claims through internal communications and media reports. The allegations were notably echoed by NT News, which later retracted its report and issued an apology.
Turner, representing a community of 24,000 Indigenous people across the southern Northern Territory, expressed his shock at the media coverage. “I was hurt, dismayed, and angry at the NT News report,” he said, highlighting the serious implications of the false narrative.
As the trial unfolds, Price has abandoned a defense of truth and is instead relying on qualified privilege to counter the defamation claims. Furthermore, she has denied any harm was inflicted upon Turner by her actions. In her affidavit, she referenced findings from the Australian National Audit Office, which criticized the council’s management under Turner, calling the findings “particularly damning.”
Despite the turmoil, Turner remains in his position, while Palmer was removed from his chair role following a council meeting in Tennant Creek in September 2024. The trial continues to draw attention as it highlights significant issues within Indigenous governance and media accountability.
The ramifications of this case extend beyond the courtroom, raising critical questions about leadership integrity and the responsibilities of public figures in their communications. As developments occur, this story remains on the radar for those following Indigenous affairs and political accountability in Australia.
Stay tuned for further updates as the trial progresses and more revelations emerge.
