House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-14 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

MCGEE, MR EUGENE

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): My question is to the Attorney-General. Does the Attorney maintain that former attorney-general Atkinson could have referred the Eugene McGee case to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, and, if so, why?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:14): Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the honourable member for her question. This morning I was asked a couple of questions on the radio, and there was a particular question raised about the matter of the conspiracy trial which went on with Mr McGee. It was my recollection that that had occurred prior to 2010. That, in fact, is not the case; as it turns out, it was in 2010, and my recollection was mistaken about that. Otherwise, I think it is fairly clear—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Otherwise, I think it is fairly clear under section 82 of the Legal Practitioners Act that the Attorney has the discretion to make a reference to the tribunal.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lee.