CIVIL ACTION AGAINST Mr JOHN MARSDEN
Reverend the Hon. F. J. NILE: Is the Attorney General, representing the Minister for Police, aware of the civil claim lodged in the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 29 May alleging a series of sexual assaults upon the plaintiff, who was aged eight years at the time, naming one of the defendants as a Mr John Marsden? Is that the same John Marsden who was a member of the New South Wales Police Board? Were these alleged assaults brought to the attention of the Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service? Are these matters subject to further police investigation?
The Hon. J. W. SHAW: I had been informed that a civil action generally of the nature described by the honourable member had been brought in the Supreme Court against Mr Marsden. That is my general understanding of the matter. Obviously the matter is sub judice, and it would be appropriate for all members to be circumspect about any comments they make about it. The matter may obviously need to be determined by the court. Whether those matters were in any way referred to or drawn to the attention of the royal commission I do not know, and I do not know whether they are the subject of any further consideration by the police.