Police called to NT Court during Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s high-profile defamation hearing
Territory police were called in to the court precinct over alleged safety concerns amid Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s high-profile defamation hearing. Read the latest here.
Territory police were called to the court precinct over alleged ‘safety concerns’ posed by a member of the public to an Australian Senator’s high-profile defamation hearing.
On Tuesday, NT Police were called to the Darwin court precinct on the second day of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s Federal Court hearing, where it is alleged she defamed Central Land Council chief executive Lesley Turner in July 2024.
Four officers were seen in the body of the Supreme Court of Darwin around 1pm, where the defamation hearing was taking place.
After the lunch break, Ms Price’s barrister Peter Gray SC said his client had “security concerns”, and was not comfortable being inside the courtroom.
After the court video livestream was switched off, Mr Gray confirmed there was a person in the courtroom who had been told by the Australian Federal Police to not ‘approach or contact’ Ms Price.
Mr Gray said despite this, the person had sat in the public gallery just two seats from Senator Price.
“Certainly he did approach her, in the sense that he sat within a couple seats of her in the court,” he said.
“She is concerned that this is contrary to what the AFP have provided to this person.”
With Ms Price due to give evidence in the Federal Court hearing, Mr Gray said there were concerns about the potential intimidation risks of the person remaining in the court.
Mr Gray said both NT Police and the AFP “have been in contact with each other” about their presence in court.
However, he said according to police, they needed the permission of the courts or security staff to remove anyone.
“The AFP has taken the position, as I understand it, that it declines to provide material or documents in this context,” Mr Gray said.
Justice Michael Wheelahan said in the absence of any evidence showing this person should not be in the open court hearing, he “should only do the minimum necessary”.
Mr Gray said he would be making an application to expel the person from the court on Wednesday morning, but for the remainder of the afternoon the Senator had chosen to return to the courtroom “despite the concerns she continues to hold”.
NT Police have confirmed their officers received a call “about an individual within the Darwin Court House”.
“The incident was handled by court staff prior to police arrival and officers were subsequently not required,” a spokesman said.
No arrests or charges were laid.
Before the lunch break outside of court a man claimed Ms Price had previously sent federal police to his home, but rejected there were any restraining orders that would prevent him attending the open court hearing.
“No, I’ve had her send the AFP (Australian Federal Police) to my house to tell me to stop sending emails about stopping child sexual abuse,” he said.
“I haven’t had a restraining order, no.”
The man said he was interested in the defamation proceedings as it “speaks to a person’s character”.
He said he had not been contacted by police about being at the court, and appeared surprised when media suggested “concerns had been raised”.
“That’s interesting. There’s nothing like being noticed,” he said.
