Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was told a defamatory press release about an Indigenous leader was wrong shortly after she issued it but she “just didn’t care”, the Federal Court has heard.

Price is defending a defamation case filed against her by Les Turner, chief executive of the Northern Territory-based Central Land Council, over a press release published in July last year. The seven-day Federal Court trial in Darwin concluded on Tuesday.

Sydney barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, acting for Turner, said in closing submissions to the court that her client had an “exemplary reputation” before the media release.

Price “was told that her publication was wrong nearly immediately by the Central Land Council... but she just didn’t care”, Chrysanthou said.

She said the senator’s “persi

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