LGAQ boss grilled in defamation trial over Facebook posts

Medical records, press reports and parliamentary documents have been raised in the defamation case brought by a Local Government Association of Queensland boss.

MEDICAL records, press reports and parliamentary documents have been raised in the defamation case brought by a Local Government Association of Queensland boss.

On day 12 of a marathon 19-day Facebook defamation trial, LGAQ chief Greg Hallam faced questions from self representing defendant Lyn O’Connor.

Mr Hallam is suing former MP Rob Pyne and Tablelands resident Ms O’Connor for defamation over 41 Facebook posts published in 2017.

Atherton Tablelands resident Lyn O'Connor.

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Mr Hallam has argued the posts falsely questioned his integrity, including one ­likening him to intergalactic Star Wars gangster Jabba the Hutt.

Rolling through a host of documents Ms O’Connor attempted to show District Court Judge Dean Morzone the “resilience” of Mr Hallam.

The LGAQ boss answered questions about his adoption, LQAQ publications about smart street lighting, local government elections in 2017, becoming injured in a “flying fence” incident and quotes published in a Courier Mail news article.

Actor Carrie Fisher and Jabba the Hutt character from Star Wars trilogy Return of the Jedi. /Films/Titles/Return/of/the/Jedi

“Courts have long held that when it comes to politics, most things are fair game,” Mr Hallam said in 2013 in relation to Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland’s “planting a donation” on a political rival.

“No one wins, but our view of it is there’s no criminal offence and there’s no breach of the Local Government Act.”

Mr Hallam’s faced questions about his weight after a letter of referral to a dietitian in March 2017.

In Ms O’Conner’s submission to the court, the letter predated Facebook posts being sued upon that allegedly caused Mr Hallam to gain weight. 

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“Thank you for seeing this patient for advice regarding increasing obesity, fortunately he has not developed any sleep apnoea,” dietitian Elissa Robbins said in a letter submitted to the court.

Ms O’Connor also quizzed Mr Hallam about action to muzzle then Cairns MP Mr Pyne over his use of parliamentary privilege.

“I met with the Premier and Deputy Premier to explain our desire for the parliament to censure the actions of the member for Cairns and the member for Lockyer Valley seeking to damage council and councillors,” Mr Hallam said.

“I recall very specifically (Mr Pyne) had alleged the Mayor was dealing drugs from his house in Cooktown.”

The trial continues.

Originally published as LGAQ boss grilled in defamation trial over Facebook posts