Ex-CLP hopeful Ashley Manicaros serves Jacinta Nampijinpa Price with concerns notice
A well-known consultant and former Cattlemen’s Association CEO has denied sending Jacinta Nampijinpa Price “threatening and harassing” messages, as she reportedly claimed at a party meeting.
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A well-known consultant and former Cattlemen’s Association CEO who has a long association with the Country Liberal Party has denied sending Jacinta Nampijinpa Price “threatening and harassing” messages, as she reportedly claimed at a party meeting.
Ashley Manicaros, whose association with the party has included a tilt at preselection and stints as a CLP adviser and chief of staff to ex-CLP Senator Sam McMahon, told the NT News he sent the concerns notice on February 29.
A concerns notice is the first step in commencing defamation proceedings.
Mr Manicaros said the notice was sent in response to statements attributed to CLP senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in the media.
She is alleged to have told party members at the recent Central Council in Mataranka that she had received “threatening and harassing” messages from Mr Manicaros.
Senator Price is also reported to have said she would feel unsafe if Mr Manicaros did resume his association with the party, amid suggestions CLP president Shane Stone was looking to hire him to conduct the 2024 election campaign.
He said he is yet to receive a statement from Senator Price either confirming or denying the words were said.
Mr Manicaros said he rejected “unconditionally” ever sending threatening and harassing messages to Senator Price.
Mr Manicaros shared a screenshot of what he claimed was his last communication with the senator, a text message dated November 28, 2022, in relation to Senator Price allegedly blocking Mr Manicaros on social media due to criticism of her opposition to a federal bill restoring the rights of Australia’s territory’s to introduce voluntary assisted dying.
“You’ve blocked me on Facebook – that’s weak,” the message reads.
“You have the courage to vote against Territorians but not answer for it …”
Mr Manicaros said the statements attributed to Senator Price had placed him “in a difficult position [in regards to] some of the clients I’m dealing with”.
After his acrimonious split from the NT Cattlemen’s Association in late 2020, Mr Manicaros went on to start a business consultancy, Manicaros Consulting.
“I’ve been open to attack based on comments that are yet to be confirmed or denied,” he said.
Mr Manicaros, who has a dated conviction for threatening to kill an NT Police officer in 1999, said it was not his preference to proceed down the legal route.
“To be honest with you, I’d rather settle this simply and it can be settled simply by either confirming or denying it,” he said.
In a brief statement, Senator Price confirmed she had received the concerns notice and said it would be “inappropriate to comment on an ongoing matter”.
Mr Stone was contacted for comment.
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