Mr MILLS - 2008-02-14
Will you clear the air in respect to Mr Collins by holding an independent inquiry into the administration of justice in this case? Further, will you now provide the date of your briefing with the Police Commissioner?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, thanks to the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In regard to an inquiry, as I have said already, the Coroner himself has said today that a public inquest into the death would not take the matter any further. The Solicitor-General has said the same: it is impossible to try someone’s criminal guilt after their death. The handling of the case of Bob Collins has been following normal court and legal procedures. I do not know what the allegation possibly is from the Leader of the Opposition.
As the Leader of the Opposition well knows, because he was given a briefing by the Police Commissioner, he had full opportunity, with the member for Araluen and other senior people on his staff, to ask any question he wanted of the Police Commissioner. He was told he was given the same substantial information that I was given shortly before the crash. That is all on the record; the Leader of the Opposition knows that.
He would also know that this weekend’s The Weekend Australian made it perfectly clear that Mr Collins was made aware of inquiries by at least one of his accusers in the days prior to the crash. That is also on the public record. It was in The Weekend Australian this weekend.
The Police Commissioner has said quite categorically that political interference has not occurred - standard and appropriate procedures were followed. The Leader of the Opposition was given the same information that I was given. He had the opportunity to ask any question he wanted of the Police Commissioner, with total transparency, with the member for Araluen and other senior people on his staff. He was given substantially the same information as I was, and the Police Commissioner has made it very clear there has been no interference and that standard procedures were followed.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, thanks to the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In regard to an inquiry, as I have said already, the Coroner himself has said today that a public inquest into the death would not take the matter any further. The Solicitor-General has said the same: it is impossible to try someone’s criminal guilt after their death. The handling of the case of Bob Collins has been following normal court and legal procedures. I do not know what the allegation possibly is from the Leader of the Opposition.
As the Leader of the Opposition well knows, because he was given a briefing by the Police Commissioner, he had full opportunity, with the member for Araluen and other senior people on his staff, to ask any question he wanted of the Police Commissioner. He was told he was given the same substantial information that I was given shortly before the crash. That is all on the record; the Leader of the Opposition knows that.
He would also know that this weekend’s The Weekend Australian made it perfectly clear that Mr Collins was made aware of inquiries by at least one of his accusers in the days prior to the crash. That is also on the public record. It was in The Weekend Australian this weekend.
The Police Commissioner has said quite categorically that political interference has not occurred - standard and appropriate procedures were followed. The Leader of the Opposition was given the same information that I was given. He had the opportunity to ask any question he wanted of the Police Commissioner, with total transparency, with the member for Araluen and other senior people on his staff. He was given substantially the same information as I was, and the Police Commissioner has made it very clear there has been no interference and that standard procedures were followed.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016