Opposition allegation about Royal Commission report outrageous

15/9/94Premier Richard Court described as outrageous the unsubstantiated allegation by the Leader of the Opposition that the State Government had requested a confidential report of the Royal Commission to use against Dr Carmen Lawrence in the Fremantle by-election campaign.

15/9/94

Premier Richard Court described as outrageous the unsubstantiated allegation by the Leader of the Opposition that the State Government had requested a confidential report of the Royal Commission to use against Dr Carmen Lawrence in the Fremantle by-election campaign.

"This allegation is totally false and a slur on every member of State Cabinet and the Official Corruption Commission (OCC)," he said.

"It is also quite apparent that if the Labor Party were in office they would not have given a copy of this report to the OCC and thereby thwarted their enquiries into official corruption."

The Premier said the OCC had quite correctly approached the Government as early as August 1993 for a copy of this report to assist with its investigations.

"This was well in advance of the Fremantle by-election which was called by the Labor Party - the timing of which the State Government had no control," Mr Court said.

"In their request the OCC explained that it would be improper for the OCC to ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to furnish it with a confidential Government document but that it was proper for the Government to provide it to them.

"The Government then sought advice from the Solicitor General and Cabinet made a decision for the OCC to be furnished with a copy.

"The Attorney General then requested a copy of the report from the DPP to be then provided to the OCC.

"The DPP felt constrained by legislation against directly releasing the report to the Official Corruption Commission.  However, he was comfortable about giving it to the Attorney General so she could pass it on to the OCC.

"The DPP also stated that it was proper for the Attorney General to retain a copy of the report under her powers as Principal Law Officer of the State."

The Premier re-emphasised that the State Government had only taken this action in response to the OCC request.

"I call on the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw this disgraceful allegation and apologise to the OCC," he said.