[Greens-Media] Costa swings a new blow at pesky DPP

[Alison Orme]

Media Release - 1 June 2007

Costa swings a new blow at pesky DPP

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says Treasurer Michael Costa's attack on the NSW DPP Nicholas Cowdery, by referring his office to the Auditor-General for review and refusing his travel requests, is just another attempt to knock down a vocal critic of the NSW government's popularist law and order policies.

"Labor's law and order policies are the real threat to justice in NSW, not the DPP," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Michael Costa is the foot soldier of a government bent on finding ways to punish the DPP.

"Nicholas Cowdery has been an outspoken critic of Labor's justice policies. He has resisted government attempts to meddle in his sentencing and appeal decisions and had the courage to label the State Plan a 'political manifesto'. 

"It is a sign of Treasurer Costa's small mindedness that he would forbid a key government official from travelling on legitimate overseas work trips to build important expertise and networks.

"The major parties fail to understand that the DPP's independence is a cornerstone of a fair and equitable justice system in this state. 

"Treasurer Costa's time would be better spent designing a budget that diverts the millions of dollars of dirty revenue that land in his lap from the coal and gambling industries into essential services such as those the DPP has been forced to suggest should be cut," Ms Rhiannon said. 

Contact: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568. 


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au