The lawsuit, initiated in September of the previous year, centers on a media release where Price claimed an unsuccessful no-confidence motion had been moved against Turner, a claim she admits but does not seek to prove as true.

Turner claims the release falsely suggested he lacked support from Central Land Council members and accused him of unprofessional behavior, which he denies, asserting that the claims are defamatory.

Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is facing a defamation lawsuit in the Federal Court in Darwin, filed by Les Turner, CEO of the Central Land Council, over a media release published in July 2024 that falsely damaged his reputation.

Price's media release claimed an unsuccessful no-confidence motion had been moved against Turner and suggested he lacked support from the Central Land Council, accusations she admits but does not seek to prove as true, relying instead on a qualified privilege defense.

The release falsely implied Turner was unprofessional and unfit for his role, alleging misconduct and suggesting he lacked support, which Turner denies, asserting the claims are defamatory.

Legal representatives for Turner argued that Price's publication was based on contradictory and unclear information from only one source, without verification, causing harm and distress, and that she failed to apologize or clarify the inaccuracies.

Price has engaged in crowdfunding, with notable contributions from Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, to cover her legal costs, and has dropped other defenses such as truth, focusing solely on qualified privilege.

The NT News published an article supporting Price’s release but later retracted and apologized for publishing false information.

The case is scheduled for a seven-day hearing overseen by Justice Michael Wheelahan in the federal court in Darwin.

Price's legal defense now relies on a claim of qualified privilege, asserting her conduct was reasonable under the circumstances, and her outcome could impact her parliamentary career if found liable and unable to pay damages.

The claims in the release were based on sources including Gavin Morris, who allegedly helped draft the statement, but the claims were proven false when the no-confidence motion was not supported by a vote.