THE Director of Public Prosecutions has been forced to fend off attacks from both sides of the political spectrum.
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Liberal senator Eric Abetz yesterday told ABC Radio he could “see the appropriateness of Mr Kerr’s concerns”.
A fuming Mr Ellis said the attacks were politically motivated to coincide with an investigation by the Legal Profession Board into complaints lodged by former police commissioner Richard McCreadie.
“This is political grandstanding on part of Kerr and Abetz,” Mr Ellis said.
“It seems very clear to me that what Kerr is suggesting is that in cases of high-profile people we shouldn’t be prosecuting them.
“Is he suggesting that we should have a two-tiered system where high-profile people with the power and influence in the media to criticise me shouldn’t be prosecuted?”
Mr Ellis also suggested Mr Kerr had weighed into the fight because he was a member of the same Labor Left faction as Bryan Green.
“It is a pity not all members of the ALP Left can deal with the charging and trials of Mr Green with the dignity Mr Green himself has shown,” Mr Ellis said.
Mr Kerr denied there was an ulterior motive behind the timing of his comments.
“My focus is on law reform for the good of Tasmania and its legal systems.
“I have suggested some changes to the law the Attorney should consider, and I have referred to the balances that exist in Commonwealth law — the Tasmanian DPP is not subject to all those balances,” Mr Kerr said.
Attorney-General Lara Giddings said Mr Kerr was entitled to his views, but any complaints against the DPP would be a matter for the Integrity Commission.
