Position on extradition reaffirmed

14/12/93

The State Government will support any moves by the Director of Public Prosecutions to seek the return from overseas of any person facing police charges in Western Australia.

However, Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes said Opposition claims that she could approach the Federal Government over the extradition of Dr Wayne Bradshaw showed an ignorance of Western Australia's own laws.

Mrs Edwardes said claims by Opposition spokesman David Smith that she could request the Federal Attorney to seek Dr Bradshaw's return from the Maldives under the London Scheme were incorrect.

"As I keep on saying, the question of extradition is one solely for the Director of Public Prosecutions," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Section 14 of the DPP Act specifically states that 'It is the function of the Director to take steps to secure the extradition to Western Australia of any person required to answer any charge of an offence or to serve a sentence imposed in Western Australia'.

"The Solicitor General has confimed that in relation to the London Scheme, it is for the DPP to decide whether the Federal Attorney General should be asked to request extraditon."

Mrs Edwardes said she was not going to compromise the independence of the DPP just because the Opposition had no grasp of the State's laws.

"One minute they are attacking me for not interfering - but you could bet that if I did try to influence the DPP they would be screaming 'political interference' not long after," she said.

"The DPP will, as is proper, make any decision relating to the extradition of Dr Bradshaw - who will be treated in exactly the same manner as anyone else who faces charges in Western Australia."

Media contact:  Casey Cahill 222 9595