[Greens-Media] Government must back scrutiny of secretive NSW Crime Commission

[David Shoebridge]

Government must back scrutiny of secretive NSW Crime Commission
MEDIA RELEASE - 18 May 2011

Following the decision of the Supreme Court to allow a public inquiry
to proceed into how the NSW Crime Commission cut secret million dollar
deals with organised crime figures, Greens MP David Shoebridge has
called on the NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher to commit to
accepting the Court’s decision and allowing the inquiry into the
secretive Crime Commission to go ahead.
 
The Court has given the Police Minister until 4pm this afternoon to
seek a stay on the judgement if he wishes to appeal.
 
See SMH page 1:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/secretive-crime-commission-to-be-called-to-account-20110517-1eria.html
 
"Police Minister Gallacher must today publicly commit to respect the
Court's decision and allow the public inquiry to go ahead," Mr
Shoebridge said.
 
"For too long the Crime Commission has been accountable only to the
Police Minister and essentially free from public scrutiny.
 
"With a new Government in Macquarie Street this is a chance to take a
new approach to justice, one that puts the public interest and
accountability ahead of cashed up backroom deals with crime figures.
 
"The Supreme Court's decision is an important step towards openness and
transparency in NSW.  
 
"The public have a right to know just how the Crime Commission goes
about cutting deals with organised crime figures.
 
"This decision shines a welcome light on secretive dealings between
this powerful government crime agency and organised crime. 
 
"In the interest of transparency and accountability in NSW, the Police
Minister must publicly back the Supreme Court's decision and open the
NSW Crime Commision up to public scrutiny," Mr Shoebridge said.
 
More information:  9230 3030 | 0433 753 376 
 
 
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David Shoebridge
Greens MLC
NSW Parliament
PH: (02) 9230 3030
FX: (02) 9230 2159
www.davidshoebridge.org.au