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Inquiry Details

Inquiry on possible intimidation of witnesses before General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3 and unauthorised disclosure of committee evidence

On 18 September 2001 the President informed the House that the Leader of the House had nominated Revd Mr Nile as the Chair of the Committee for this inquiry.

The reporting date for the inquiry was extended to 15 November 2001 by resolution of the House on 24 October 2001.

On 6 December 2001 the Legislative House resolved:

That the House adopt recommendations Nos 1 to 4 of Report No. 13 of the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics entitled “Possible intimidation of witnesses before General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3 and unauthorised disclosure of committee evidence.”

That the President write to the Commissioner of Police informing him of the terms of Recommendations Nos 2 and 3, namely: Recommendation 2:

That Police Management be reminded that intimidation or coercion of police officers who give evidence before parliamentary committees, whether intended or not, in relation to their evidence constitutes a contempt of Parliament. Recommendation 3:

That the Police Commissioner be advised of the need to develop a clear set of procedures for management when dealing with officers under their command who appear as witnesses before parliamentary inquiries. These procedures should be published and widely circulated to avoid future problems between the Police Service and the Parliament. On 15 November 2001, the House resolved:

That this House, having considered the recommendations of Report No. 13 of the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics entitled "Possible intimidation of witnesses before General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3 and unauthorised disclosure of committee evidence", requests the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics to inquire into and report on appropriate guidelines for dealing with unauthorised disclosure of debates, reports or proceedings of Legislative Council committees. Resolution of the House on the motion of Revd the Hon Fred Nile MLC:

Minutes of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council No. 132, Thursday 15 November 2001, item .

Resolution passed 25 May 1999, 1st Session, Minutes No. 4, pp 83-5.

That Report No. 6 of General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3 entitled “Special Report on possible breaches of privilege arising from the inquiry into Cabramatta policing”, dated June 2001, be referred to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics for inquiry and report by 26 October 2001.

That for the purposes of this inquiry Mr Breen be appointed as a member of the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics in place of Mrs Sham-Ho.


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