Southern Expressway Road Death

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the DPP be lodging an appeal in respect to the sentence of the youth who killed Mrs Nicole Tucker?

The SPEAKER: A question I might have asked myself in opposition.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:32): Indeed, and I thank the deputy leader for her question. The matter is presently being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He has a period, if I am not mistaken, of 21 days from the date of the determination to make a decision. I would expect him to—in fact, I am positive that he will be directing his mind to this matter and to asking himself whether or not the trial judge has made what he regards as an appealable error.

If he does come to that conclusion, then I, of course, would expect that what would follow would be that an appeal would be lodged. So I am presently awaiting his study of the matter. He will, within a matter of not too many days, come to a conclusion about the matter and at that point in time we will know how he is proceeding. But I can assure the honourable member that I did speak to him about the matter the other day and asked him whether he was looking at the matter or whether he would look at the matter, and he indicated to me he would.

I believe, for example, this week that the High Court has been here in Adelaide. It wouldn't surprise the deputy leader to know that Mr Kimber is entertaining them on matters, I believe, and therefore is not fully blessed with an open diary for this week, but my expectation is he will get to it as quickly as possible and form a view.