Mr MALEY - 2003-06-18
I understand that yesterday you said that you told a police officer investigating the traffic matter involving your son that you were a member of the Martin Labor government. Can you explain the sequence of events in which you decided that the investigating officer was too junior to be handling the matter and that more senior officers should be in charge of the investigation?
ANSWER
I thank the member for his question. There are some inaccuracies in the wording of that question, Madam Speaker. It is true, when the police rang my home and wanted to speak to my son, I invited them to our home to speak to our son. I did, I think, what any reasonable father would do in trying to safeguard the interests of his son. However, in the interests of making things clear and transparent, I did inform the officer, not that I was a member of the Martin Labor government, but that I was a member of the Legislative Assembly. I felt it was important to lay that on the record, not for any purpose of unduly influencing anybody, but for the very fact that such an interview would attract scrutiny, which it has. I wanted everyone to be aware of that, and that is why I told this particular officer that I was a member of the Legislative Assembly, and I am quite straightforward about that.
I did make a request, it is true, or a suggestion, that it might be in order for some senior officers to be present at the interview for the very reason that I have outlined before. For that reason also, I asked a family friend, who is a lawyer, to be present.
Madam Speaker, I can stand here and look anyone in the eye. I have done nothing improper. I have only striven to safeguard the interests of my son, as any father would do, and I stand by that.
ANSWER
I thank the member for his question. There are some inaccuracies in the wording of that question, Madam Speaker. It is true, when the police rang my home and wanted to speak to my son, I invited them to our home to speak to our son. I did, I think, what any reasonable father would do in trying to safeguard the interests of his son. However, in the interests of making things clear and transparent, I did inform the officer, not that I was a member of the Martin Labor government, but that I was a member of the Legislative Assembly. I felt it was important to lay that on the record, not for any purpose of unduly influencing anybody, but for the very fact that such an interview would attract scrutiny, which it has. I wanted everyone to be aware of that, and that is why I told this particular officer that I was a member of the Legislative Assembly, and I am quite straightforward about that.
I did make a request, it is true, or a suggestion, that it might be in order for some senior officers to be present at the interview for the very reason that I have outlined before. For that reason also, I asked a family friend, who is a lawyer, to be present.
Madam Speaker, I can stand here and look anyone in the eye. I have done nothing improper. I have only striven to safeguard the interests of my son, as any father would do, and I stand by that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016