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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-08-25 Daily Xml
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Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Treasurer, representing the Attorney-General, about the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last month, I submitted nine main questions to the Attorney-General regarding Mr Greg May, the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, who was found by a majority judgement of the Full Court to have contravened section 17 of the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act 1995 five times. Mr May also made admissions to this. These can carry significant penalties, including a gaol term. The Attorney-General herself, when in opposition, was aware of at least one breach when she posed questions about Mr May to the then Labor Attorney-General, Mr Rau.

The response I received yesterday was less than satisfactory. She failed to answer the pertinent questions and seemed to make an excuse for Mr May's actions, despite him clearly breaking the law. I must assume Mr May is immune from breaking the law while he cracks down on lawyers for their conduct. The Attorney-General implied it is not her responsibility for administering the act. She passed the buck, except Mr May's position is actually her responsibility. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Whilst Mr May was appointed by the former attorney-general and Labor government, why was his term of a further five years renewed by this Attorney-General and the Liberal government and in circumstances where the Attorney-General was aware of Mr May's breach of section 17 of the PSHA Act on at least one occasion?

2. Is there a formal process that takes place when renewing a term of a senior government official and, if so, what is it? Does that process require the government official to fully disclose any fact, matter or thing which might be relevant to the decision-maker in renewing the term of his or her contract? If so, did Mr May disclose his five breaches of the PSHA Act?

3. Did anyone ask Mr May if he had any relevant matters to disclose when applying for a renewal of his term for a further five years?

4. Can the minister provide a list of people—public sector employees—who are permitted to break laws with impunity and those who cannot?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:05): I will refer the honourable member's questions to the Attorney and bring back a reply.

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