Keogh Case

Mr KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:42): My question is to the Attorney-General. On how many occasions has the Attorney-General met with lawyers representing Mr Henry Keogh?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:43): I think I need to be clear about—in the last 20-odd years, there have been various legal representatives of Mr Keogh. Obviously, during 20 years of legal practice, I came across a number of them. Apart from Mr Kevin Borich QC, who represented him in relation to some petition matters, the most recent that I can recall was Marie Shaw QC, who represented Mr Keogh in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

In relation to the most recent application for an ex gratia payment, if that is specifically to be confined to, I don't think I have ever met with any of those personally. Obviously some of them are in practice and have been in the last 30 years, but I make the point that, in relation to this matter, to my recollection I certainly haven't met with them in relation to this matter. This is a matter which has been negotiated by independent senior counsel with the assistance of the Attorney-General's Department, the Crown Solicitor's Office.

They have been the negotiating party on behalf of the state. To the best of my knowledge, that's the same that prevailed under the former attorney-general from May 2017, but he may or may not have met with them; I don't know. But from the information I have seen, attorneys-general covering this period, which is the last 13 months or so, haven't had direct involvement in relation to the negotiations.