John Pesutto’s lawyers grill Moira Deeming’s social media expert witness
Lawyers for John Pesutto have questioned Moira Deeming’s expert witness over accuracy in his data on day five of the high-profile defamation trial.
Lawyers for Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto have grilled a social media expert called on by ousted MP Moira Deeming’s legal team.
Geoffrey Campey, owner of Social Media Evidence Experts, confirmed to the Federal Court in Melbourne on Friday that he had prepared two reports for the MP for her defamation case against Mr Pesutto.
Ms Deeming is suing her former boss over his efforts to expel her from the party room, and over allegations he falsely portrayed her as a Nazi sympathiser.
Justice David O’Callaghan was told that the expert witness’ business had conducted over 1000 online investigations which forensically collects and preserves online data.
Mr Campey gave evidence that he had conducted an analysis of the views and engagement of various publications including the press release announcing the intent to expel Ms Deeming, as well as stories in the media.
He said that he had used social media analysis software Meltwater to help him collect and generate data contained in the report.
Matthew Collins KC, appearing for Mr Pesutto, sought to question the accuracy of some data points in the witness’ research.
The barrister pointed to data collected in relation to an article about Ms Deeming on the Epoch Times website, with Mr Campey’s report suggesting it had a reach of over 6 million.
Mr Collins said that the article had just 29 comments.
“The fact that only 29 people had commented on that article tells you doesn’t it that … it’s highly unlikely 6 million people had seen it,” Mr Collins questioned the witness.
“It’s (Meltwater) an approximate tool at best isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Mr Campey answered.
Mr Collins also suggested to the witness that he could have gotten more accurate information on the views of specific articles by asking for data from the owners of the news websites instead of relying on Meltwater.
Presbyterian Pastor Christopher Duke, a witness for Ms Deeming, also took the stand on Friday morning and gave evidence the MP’s reputation had not changed among their community.
“You say (in your affidavit) … Prior to 19 March 2023 within the wider presbyterian community within which I mixed, Moira had a reputation of being honest, courageous, friendly and caring,” Mr Collins put to the witness
“Does she continue to enjoy that reputation within the wider presbyterian community today?”
Mr Duke answered: “I believe so”.
It is expected that Liberal frontbenchers Richard Riordan and David Hodgett will take to the witness box after lunch.
On Thursday, Ms Deeming gave evidence that she wanted to be sure the men who performed the Nazi salute on the steps of state parliament were “self-confessed” Nazis.
“It was very difficult for me to conceive of the fact there were actual, real Nazis in Melbourne in 2023,” she told the court.
“I thought, surely these are just a bunch of horrendous, offensive, idiot young people.
“I just needed to be very, very careful before I made that accusation. It’s such a bad accusation, this is the most serious thing you can say.”
The hearing continues.
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