Illawarra union members had compared corruption allegations against former Shellharbour councillor Michele Greig to the now infamous investigation into Wollongong City Council, the NSW Supreme Court heard yesterdayMembers of the United Services Union discussed the allegations after they were aired on an evening news bulletin on March 28, 2007, the organisation's former Wollongong branch president, John Ernst, told the court.Mrs Greig is now suing WIN Television NSW Pty Ltd for defamation over the story.
Michele Greig sues WIN TV for defamationYesterday, Mr Ernst told the court "a few" people had spoken to him about the story and it was raised at a union meeting."After what went on in Wollongong, that was big news, (the members thought) there was another corruption matter, a councillor at Shellharbour now," he said.Mr Ernst told the court he had known the Greig family for about seven years. He noticed Mrs Greig was still upset three months after the story was broadcast.The story stated that Mrs Greig had been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over a meeting she had had with a private communications company representative and her acceptance of Blackberry devices while she was overseeing a plan to upgrade councillors' technology.A planned vote on the technology upgrade was removed from the council's business papers when the meeting was "discovered" by general manager Brian Weir, the story said."As the matter didn't go to council, ICAC did not deliver a finding, however suggested the issue instead be referred back before council's code of conduct committee," it continued.Mrs Greig said in court on Wednesday that she had used one of three Blackberries and a modem given to her family business by Telstra. However, she denied they were a gift or that she had acted inappropriately.The defence continued its cross-examination of Mrs Greig yesterday. Bruce McClintock, SC, questioned Mrs Greig about a phone call she received from a WIN journalist before the broadcast, during which he allegedly asked her about a code of conduct committee investigation into her handling of a planned technology upgrade for councillors and her receiving Blackberry devices while she was acting mayor.Mrs Greig had told the court she was asleep when the journalist called her in London about 12.30am (London time) and she did not know what his questions related to. She did not recall any reference to the committee investigation or the Blackberries.Under questioning from Mr McClintock, she agreed that she had been subject to only one committee investigation and that it was about the use of a Blackberry."If he had said Blackberry it would have immediately told you, wouldn't it, that he was referring to the events that led to the code of conduct committee?" Mr McClintock asked."Possibly if that was said that possibly would have occurred, yes," Mrs Greig replied."I want to suggest to you that you knew exactly what (the journalist) was calling about, didn't you," Mr McClintock said."No I did not," Mrs Greig said. The defence yesterday also argued that the story was "substantially true" and had not implied Mrs Greig was corrupt.Mrs Greig's husband, Neil, and daughter, Michelle also took the stand. They both told the court Mrs Greig did not have day-to-day involvement in the family business Gemsail and was not involved in the discussions with Telstra that led to the company receiving the three Blackberries and modem.Footnote: Yesterday's Mercury referred to the defence lawyer as Terry Tobin, QC. Mr Tobin is barrister for Mrs Greig.
