A member of parliament questions the Minister for Police regarding potential perjury by police officers in the Mickelberg brothers case, implying a conflict of interest due to another minister's past involvement. The Minister deflects, citing lack of notice and the passing/retirement of some officers.

AnsweredQoN 525Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 September 2005
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the 2004 Supreme Court appeal decision that quashed the Mickelberg brothers’ convictions and to the following remarks of Justice Steytler in his judgment - . . . that the evidence now before the Court, . . . raises serious questions about the reliability of the evidence previously given by Hancock, Lewandowski, Round and Gillespie and, less directly, about that given by Kucera, Cvijic, Hooft and Henley. (1) Given that a Supreme Court judge indicated that a small group of police officers might have perjured themselves under oath, will the minister advise what subsequent investigations have taken place to determine whether any of those police officers have perjured themselves? (2) If no investigation has taken place, will the minister assure the house that this is not because one of the police officers named by Justice Steytler is now the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Seniors in the Gallop government? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Did the member for Hillarys ask the question of the Minister for Police? Mr R.F. Johnson : Yes. The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
(2) If no investigation has taken place, will the minister assure the house that this is not because one of the police officers named by Justice Steytler is now the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Seniors in the Gallop government? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Did the member for Hillarys ask the question of the Minister for Police? Mr R.F. Johnson : Yes. The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Did the member for Hillarys ask the question of the Minister for Police? Mr R.F. Johnson : Yes. The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
The SPEAKER : Order! Did the member for Hillarys ask the question of the Minister for Police? Mr R.F. Johnson : Yes. The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Yes. The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
The SPEAKER : Then why are you questioning someone else? I call the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.
I thank the member for the question. If the member for Hillarys had given me some notice of the question, I could have told him what, if any, investigations had taken place. I note that some of the names the member mentioned are of persons who have passed away. Others have long since left the Police Service. If the member would like the answer to that question, I suggest that he put it on notice.

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