Pyne faces damages claim in Jabba the Hutt lawsuit

FORMER Cairns MP Rob Pyne is one of four people being sued over a series of Facebook posts in which he likened Local Government Association of Queensland chief Greg Hallam to Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt.

Mr Hallam is seeking $2.25 million in damages, plus costs, against four defendants, including $500,000 from Mr Pyne.

Others named in the claim include Lyn Elizabeth O’Connor and Jason Ward, who were regular visitors to Parliament while Mr Pyne was an MP, and Desmond John O’Connor.

In a statement of claim lodged with the District Court last month, lawyers for Mr Hallam allege the posts likened the LGAQ chief to Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt and questioned his integrity.

Mr Hallam’s lawyers alleged the posts in their “natural and ordinary meaning meant and was understood to mean” the LGAQ chief was a powerful crime boss and operated through the LGAQ as a cartel.

“By reason of the defamatory imputations alleged above, Mr Hallam has been greatly injured in his credit and reputation, and has suffered hurt, distress and embarrassment,” the documents state.

The documents say the posts have impacted Mr Hallam’s health. They claim Mr Hallam held a reasonable belief that he was powerless to correct the “falsity of each such defamatory imputation without worsening the damage he was already suffering and would into the future suffer”.

Mr Pyne declined to comment but said: “I am unemployed, I can’t afford a solicitor – I can’t even afford to shine my shoes – so I can’t really do anything about it.”

The parties have until Wednesday to respond.