[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Bartlett Misleads Assembly Over DPP Advice Detail_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PREMIER MISLEADS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OVER DPP ADVICE DETAIL

And Fails To Correct Record at Earliest Opportunity

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today have alleged that Premier David Bartlett
misled the Tasmanian House of Assembly this morning by inaccurately
stating that 'The DPP has chosen not to furnish me or the
Solicitor-General with any further detail....' on his (the DPP's)
concerns about the decision of Mr Bartlett to recommend the appointment
of Mr McCreadie as temporary Police Commissioner.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that Mr Bartlett has also failed to
come into the House and correct the record at the first opportunity
after failing to disclose the degree of detail contained in the advice
provided by the DPP in a letter to the Solicitor-General dated the 20th
of October this year.

"Contrary to Mr Bartlett's answer in the House this morning, the DPP had
clearly provided more detail to the Solicitor General in his letter of
yesterday which I tabled in the House this afternoon," Mr McKim said.

"If Mr Bartlett's rhetorical commitment to transparency had any veracity
he would have fully disclosed the contents of Mr Ellis' letter to Mr
Sealy - that he failed to do so speaks volumes of his character."

"Citing concerns over close 'links' between three individuals, and
indicating that it is only appropriate to discuss further details with
the Governor, definitely qualify as 'further detail', which the Premier
should have told the Parliament, but didn't."


"At the very least, Mr Bartlett must issue a frank apology to the
Parliament, to the Tasmanian community, and to the DPP for
misrepresenting the DPP's response."

"There are very serious issues arising from the content of the two DPP
letters, and Mr Bartlett is only digging a deeper hole for himself and
this government by his Lennonesque failure to provide full and
transparent answers," Mr McKim said.

SOURCES:
The Premier
"Essentially, the DPP was asked by the Solicitor-General whether there
were any matters which would make it inappropriate for me to advise His
Excellency to appoint Mr McCreadie as the temporary commissioner. The
answer from the Director of Public Prosecutions was yes. The DPP has
chosen not to furnish me or the Solicitor-General with any further
detail..." (Excerpt from today's Hansard Uncorrected Proofs, 21 October
2008).

"The answer from the DPP was "yes".  The DPP chose not to furnish me or
the Solicitor-General with any further detail." (Excerpt from the
Premier's media release, issued today, 21 October 2008).

The DPP:
"I have reason to believe that the links between the Premier, Mr R
McCreadie and Mr J Johnston are close and current and I am not at this
point prepared to discuss the matters affecting my answer with anyone
except the His Excellency the Governor should His Excellency so wish."
(Excerpt from the DPP's letter to the Solicitor-General, yesterday, 20
October 2008).

Mr McKim also succeeded in tabling in the Parliament this afternoon the
two letters from the DPP to the Solicitor-General regarding the
appointment of a temporary Police Commissioner.




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