[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Police Still Investigating Police-Commission of Inquiry Needed_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

STILL NO INDEPENDENCE AS POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE POLICE

What Did the Attorney-General Know and When?

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Saturday, 16 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today said that the government has the capacity
under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1995 to establish an independent
Commission of Inquiry into matters associated with the potential
disclosure of official secrets by Mr Jack Johnston, and the Premier
David Bartlett should take the required action immediately.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that even with the involvement of the
Director of Public Prosecutions, the police are still investigating
themselves, which he said is unfair on both Tasmania Police and Mr
Johnston, and lacked the independence demanded by the Tasmanian
community.

Mr McKim also said that the involvement of the DPP in the ongoing
investigation must have come at the request of the Attorney-General
David Llewellyn, and demanded to know when Mr Llewellyn first became
aware of the allegations against Mr Johnston and what actions he then
took. 

"No matter how Premier David Bartlett is trying to spin the situation
the fact is that Tasmania Police are still investigating Tasmania
Police, which is highly improper and completely unfair to everyone
involved," Mr McKim said.

"Mr Bartlett's position that the Police Service Act 2003 needs amending
is an admission that Tasmania Police are not independent, and on that
basis he cannot possibly support the current investigation and maintain
any credibility at all."

"Mr Ellis made it very clear to me in his letter of 11 April that
'...clearly only the Attorney General can make a valid request and /or
direction that I investigate a matter...', and on that basis the
community has a right to know exactly what involvement David Llewellyn
has had in this investigation, and exactly what the Premier knew, and
when."

Mr McKim also said that the upcoming announcement flagged by Mr Bartlett
would fail the public if it did not contain support for a new
independent investigative authority for Tasmania.

"Anything less than the creation of a new and completely independent
anti-corruption authority would be like putting a bandaid on a bullet
wound."

"Measures that Mr Bartlett should announce include legislation to create
a Lobbyists Register and a post-ministerial probity framework, a new
independent investigative authority, a Parliamentary Standards
Commissioner, an improved Freedom of Information Act and better
protection for whistleblowers."



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