House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-07 Daily Xml

Contents

Debelle Inquiry

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:56): Could the Attorney-General then advise as to the further events that are to occur or not occur to disqualify the release of the report and transcript and documents and the like, given that this morning charges against the offender have been dropped and the suppression order lifted? I am sure the Attorney will be well aware of that. What are the other impeding features that prevent him from determining that the legal event has occurred?

An honourable member: That's the unknown unknowns

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:57): Yes. Look, I was trying to be slightly—

Ms Chapman: Funny.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, careful about how I described this. Again, because I am not wishing to cross the boundary that was originally set by Mr Debelle, I am being careful in what I am saying. I have been advised by the DPP—and I am being careful about what I am saying here—that at present there is the possibility of further legal action relevant to this particular matter which may disturb the current state of affairs. For that reason, and for that reason alone, I am reluctant to go into any further exposition on the matter, but I can tell the honourable member that it will be clear fairly soon whether or not that other matter is a live matter.

If it is clear that that other matter is not going to proceed, then that is fine and as far as I am concerned the release that the honourable member is asking about would be in order. If that other matter remains a live matter, then it may be some time until the release is in order. Another way of explaining this is that this is completely out of the hands of the Crown, this particular unknown that I am talking about. It is not a matter of the Crown having to make a choice here. It is a matter of somebody else having to make a choice.