❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Attorney General regarding a conflict of interest involving the State Solicitor in a defamation case, seeking details on associated costs and communication frequency. The response cites legal professional privilege, limiting the information provided.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Council
Asked
10 May 2022
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
EVIDENCE — STATE SOLICITOR ADVICE
361. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
evidence in court on 8 April 2022 that the State Solicitor, Mr Egan, was unable
to provide advice on a defamation case due to a possible conflict.
(1) What has been the cost to the
state of that possible conflict?
(2) On what dates
since the March 2021 state election did the Attorney General meet with the State
Solicitor?
(3) Did the
Attorney General and the State Solicitor communicate on any other occasion
outside of a meeting during that period?
(4) If yes to (3), what was the
mode of that communication and when did it occur?
EVIDENCE — STATE SOLICITOR ADVICE
361. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
evidence in court on 8 April 2022 that the State Solicitor, Mr Egan, was unable
to provide advice on a defamation case due to a possible conflict.
(1) What has been the cost to the
state of that possible conflict?
(2) On what dates
since the March 2021 state election did the Attorney General meet with the State
Solicitor?
(3) Did the
Attorney General and the State Solicitor communicate on any other occasion
outside of a meeting during that period?
(4) If yes to (3), what was the
mode of that communication and when did it occur?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question and provide the following answer based on information provided
to me by the Attorney General.
(1) These costs have not been
quantified.
(2)–(4) The
Attorney General meets regularly with the State Solicitor. Given the State
Solicitor's Office is responsible for providing legal advice to
government on an array of legal matters, many of these meetings and
communications are covered by legal professional privilege.
of the question and provide the following answer based on information provided
to me by the Attorney General.
(1) These costs have not been
quantified.
(2)–(4) The
Attorney General meets regularly with the State Solicitor. Given the State
Solicitor's Office is responsible for providing legal advice to
government on an array of legal matters, many of these meetings and
communications are covered by legal professional privilege.
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