Question Time

Keogh Case

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier read the report by the former solicitor-general and current Chief Justice, Chris Kourakis, regarding the murder of Anna-Jane Cheney?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:04): The report which has been referred to and which was tabled in the parliament yesterday, which was the advice as outlined by the Leader of the Opposition, was a document pursuant to the Full Court decision, which was subsequently released under the delegated responsibility of the chief executive.

As members know from previous advice to the parliament, the Chief Executive of the Attorney-General's Department had the conduct of this matter since the election of the new government—for obvious reasons, but I am happy to recount them if necessary—and the whole question of the freedom of information application of Channel 7 had culminated in a decision on a question of law before the Full Court populated by three Victorian Supreme Court judges on 12 April. That was a decision that was made, and subsequently the chief executive determined to release the report.

The SPEAKER: Attorney, there is a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This is all very interesting, sir, but the question was whether the Premier read the report.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is for debate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Debate.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. I have given the Attorney probably about half a minute to provide some preamble. I do believe the question as I heard it was about whether the Premier had read the Keogh report. I will listen carefully to the answer. I have the point of order, thank you.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: As a result of the Full Court determination, the chief executive advised me early last week, I think it was, that she had determined that it was appropriate, as a model citizen that the Crown should be, that a copy of the report should be delivered to Channel 7, which was the applicant under the freedom of information application, and that was done on Wednesday of last week. I was provided a copy that night. I spent a good part of ANZAC Day reading it. To the best of my knowledge, the only other copy that was provided on that day was to the current Chief Justice.