❓ A parliamentary question raises concerns about alleged police involvement in a murder and potential cover-up, questioning whether a Royal Commission's terms of reference will allow for investigation. The Minister's response is evasive, questioning the questioner's motives.
AnsweredQoN 351Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
It has been frequently reported over the years that police and a prominent politician were implicated in a widely publicised murder in South Perth, and that police were also implicated in the cover-up of the crime. (1) Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? Even though the names of the police supposedly implicated have not been published, journalists know them and those supposedly involved in the cover-up include current serving officers of the force. (2) Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation will not be able to be investigated by the royal commission into the police because it falls outside the proposed period set by the terms of reference? (3) Is the Government prepared to set the terms of reference of the royal commission so that allegations of police involvement in this murder and its subsequent handling can be investigated? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(1) Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? Even though the names of the police supposedly implicated have not been published, journalists know them and those supposedly involved in the cover-up include current serving officers of the force. (2) Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation will not be able to be investigated by the royal commission into the police because it falls outside the proposed period set by the terms of reference? (3) Is the Government prepared to set the terms of reference of the royal commission so that allegations of police involvement in this murder and its subsequent handling can be investigated? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(3) Is the Government prepared to set the terms of reference of the royal commission so that allegations of police involvement in this murder and its subsequent handling can be investigated? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(1) Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? Even though the names of the police supposedly implicated have not been published, journalists know them and those supposedly involved in the cover-up include current serving officers of the force. (2) Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation will not be able to be investigated by the royal commission into the police because it falls outside the proposed period set by the terms of reference? (3) Is the Government prepared to set the terms of reference of the royal commission so that allegations of police involvement in this murder and its subsequent handling can be investigated? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(3) Is the Government prepared to set the terms of reference of the royal commission so that allegations of police involvement in this murder and its subsequent handling can be investigated? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
The Attorney General has provided me with an answer that is current as at 27 June 2001. Before I read out the answer I should make some observations about the question, because they are pertinent to the answer I am about to give. The first part of the question states - Are the Attorney General and the minister aware of those reports? The second part of the question commences - Are the Attorney and the minister concerned that this allegation . . . The answer I am about to read out is relevant to what the Attorney General has to say about the question. I will make my comments after I have read out the Attorney General’s comments, which are - (1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(1) No, and in any event, I try not to comment on scuttlebutt. (2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(2) No, because no terms of reference have been set. (3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
(3) The terms of reference will be announced when they have been set. I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
I have been asked this question in a representative capacity, but I have an obligation to point out that I am a member of this House and, therefore, I can make some reference to the standing orders to the effect that I am answering the question in a representative capacity. In doing so, I note that the member expresses great concern about events which occurred many years ago, and I note that the member was the Attorney General from 21 December 1995 to 16 February 2001. I wonder why he is asking me the question, and why he is asking the question at all.
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