❓ Question regarding Premier's misleading statement about bail of Danny Hodgson's attacker and Attorney General's reliance on media reports. Premier acknowledges inaccurate advice and orders review.
AnsweredQoN 651Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VIOLENT OFFENDERS —
BAIL AND SUPERVISION ORDER RELEASE — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
651. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
claims last week regarding the bail of Danny Hodgson's attacker that —
This person was arrested and the
police opposed bail, as we expect them to �
(1) Does the
Premier accept that his statement was misleading; and would he like to correct
the record, as his Attorney General did earlier today?
(2) Noting that
the Attorney General blamed inaccurate reports for his misleading the house, is
it good enough for the highest law officer in the state to rely on media
reports, not legal facts, in this or any other case?
BAIL AND SUPERVISION ORDER RELEASE — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
651. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
claims last week regarding the bail of Danny Hodgson's attacker that —
This person was arrested and the
police opposed bail, as we expect them to �
(1) Does the
Premier accept that his statement was misleading; and would he like to correct
the record, as his Attorney General did earlier today?
(2) Noting that
the Attorney General blamed inaccurate reports for his misleading the house, is
it good enough for the highest law officer in the state to rely on media
reports, not legal facts, in this or any other case?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) As
the Leader of the Opposition observed, the Attorney General corrected the
record earlier in today's sitting, so from that perspective, the government
has made it very clear that it was operating on advice that was not accurate at
the time. The Attorney General and I were advised that the police had opposed
bail; however, we have confirmed that police bail was denied and that the
police did not support bailing the offender
in court and listed the seriousness of offences. However, it is disappointing
that the police did not more
explicitly oppose bail in the court. I have asked the Attorney General to
review the circumstances around these decisions and he will consider any
changes that may need to be considered to stop a repeat of these issues. From
time to time, these issues happen. I note that in an article in the Geraldton
Guardian the court reporter said that the police prosecutor said that the
nature of the alleged offences was serious and that he opposed bail. But it
would appear that that was not the case. That is the reason why the Attorney General, out of an abundance of respect
for this chamber, took the appropriate steps this afternoon to correct
the record.
the Leader of the Opposition observed, the Attorney General corrected the
record earlier in today's sitting, so from that perspective, the government
has made it very clear that it was operating on advice that was not accurate at
the time. The Attorney General and I were advised that the police had opposed
bail; however, we have confirmed that police bail was denied and that the
police did not support bailing the offender
in court and listed the seriousness of offences. However, it is disappointing
that the police did not more
explicitly oppose bail in the court. I have asked the Attorney General to
review the circumstances around these decisions and he will consider any
changes that may need to be considered to stop a repeat of these issues. From
time to time, these issues happen. I note that in an article in the Geraldton
Guardian the court reporter said that the police prosecutor said that the
nature of the alleged offences was serious and that he opposed bail. But it
would appear that that was not the case. That is the reason why the Attorney General, out of an abundance of respect
for this chamber, took the appropriate steps this afternoon to correct
the record.
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