[Greens-Media] Greens concerned at resignation of yet another top OPI officer

[Michelle.Panayi at parliament.vic.gov.au]

30 October 2012

Media Release

Greens concerned at resignation of yet another top OPI officer

Greens MP and Justice spokesperson, Sue Pennicuik has expressed concern at 
the resignation of the Director of Operations of the Office of Police 
Integrity (OPI), John Nolan yesterday.

"The resignation of Mr Nolan is a concern," Ms Pennicuik said. "He was a 
founding member of the OPI and a key figure in the OPI’s investigation 
into police brutality inside the armed offenders squad. He was also 
expected to take up a senior position at the yet-to-be-functional IBAC."

"This is the third top officer to leave the OPI in the past year," said 
Ms. Pennicuik. "When you have the three most senior officers leaving an 
organisation so closely in time, you cannot help but question how 
functional that organisation is and for it to be the police watchdog is 
more concerning."

"I have maintained that the OPI should remain in place, alongside the IBAC 
- as is the case in NSW, at least until IBAC has been operating for a 
while. These resignations from the OPI and the absence of a functioning 
IBAC vindicate this position."

"IBAC is still far from being operational, and there is still the problem 
of the legislation that so narrowly defines what the IBAC is able to 
investigate in terms of corruption in Victoria," said Ms. Pennicuik. 

 "At the same time we still don’t have a permanent Commissioner for IBAC 
nor a permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice nor a permanent 
Corrections Commissioner," Ms Pennicuik said. "The whole situation is a 
mess and is undermining public confidence." 
"On the issue of corrections, I am also concerned that the Corrections 
Inspectorate is too secretive," said Ms. Pennicuik. "The report from 
Victorian Ombudsman Mr Brouwer raised serious concerns about the behaviour 
of prison guards that possibly affected their level of vigilance within 
Barwon prison when prisoner Carl Williams died. This issue needs urgent 
attention."

"Victoria needs a corrections inspectorate that is independent of the 
Department of Justice, to monitor all prisons and custodial institutions 
in an open and transparent manner and to ensure that all prisoners are 
treated humanely," said Ms. Pennicuik. 

"The recent plight of a 16 year old aboriginal boy who was held in 
solitary confinement at the Charlotte maximum security unit inside Port 
Phillip Prison, also highlights the need to establish such an independent 
inspectorate. It is incredible that Corrections Victoria thought it was 
appropriate that this boy not only be placed in an adult prison, but also 
that he be placed in solitary confinement," Ms. Pennicuik said. "I support 
the Law Institute of Victoria’s position that this case needs to be 
investigated."

Further information contact Sue Pennicuik on 03  9530 8399






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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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