Nick McKim Greens MR
“So much for the new broom, and so much for the line in the sand; this is a Lennonesque shambles that confirms all that is wrong with Labor government. Mr Bartlett’s failure of process before announcing Mr McCreadie as Temporary Police Commissioner is reminiscent of Paul Lennon at his worst, and the DPP’s letters make it clear that these actions have serious and wide-reaching ramifications.”
BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS ROCK BARTLETT GOVERNMENT
Calls for Full Independent Commission of Inquiry
Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens have called for a Commission of Inquiry into matters raised in explosive correspondence released today to the Leaders of the two Opposition parties by the Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis.
Greens Opposition Leader Nick McKim MP, who received copies of two letters sent from Mr Ellis to the Solicitor-General Leigh Sealy regarding the appointment of a temporary Police Commissioner, described the correspondence as bombshells which would rock the Bartlett government to the core.
“There is a major crisis in the administration of justice in Tasmania caused directly by the Premier’s actions, and the only appropriate way forward is for an independent inquiry with full powers to get to the bottom of this mess,” Mr McKim said.
“So much for the new broom, and so much for the line in the sand; this is a Lennonesque shambles that confirms all that is wrong with Labor government.”
“Despite all his rhetoric Mr Bartlett has shown that his government is unable to rise out of the mire that has afflicted recent Labor administrations.”
“The matters raised by the DPP are of the utmost seriousness, and demand an immediate and detailed response from the Premier.”
“In particular Mr Bartlett must disclose the nature of the links between “the Premier, Mr R. McCreadie and Mr J Johnston,” that the DPP cites in his letter, and whether they influenced his decision last week to appoint Mr McCreadie.”
“There are clear concerns in this correspondence that the actions of the Premier and subsequent events may prejudice further investigations which still may need to be done.”
“This latest and grave controversy to engulf the government is of Mr Bartlett’s own making.”
“Mr Bartlett’s failure of process before announcing Mr McCreadie as Temporary Police Commissioner is reminiscent of Paul Lennon at his worst, and the DPP’s letters make it clear that these actions have serious and wide-reaching ramifications.”
And, Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the State Opposition
Rene Hidding MP
Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Tuesday October 21, 2008
Labor unravels
Premier, David Bartlett, has today shown that nothing has changed in the Labor Party since he took over from Paul Lennon as Premier.
Today, in Parliament, Mr Bartlett blatantly refused to honestly answer questions related to his bungled appointment of a new Police Commissioner.
Mr Bartlett’s appalling approach to due process in this matter, and his failure to be honest about it now that it has blown up in his face, show this is the same old Labor Government in Government.
Grave questions and contradictions continue to surround the processes that Mr Bartlett followed from when he announced the appointment of Mr McCreadie last week to announcing last night that it could not proceed.
These have intensified following the statements provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions immediately after Question Time.
There can be no question that a Royal Commission is required into these, and related matters.
Some of the developments today included:
Mr Bartlett appears to have misled Parliament in relation to the full nature of the advice provided by the DPP regarding the appointment of Mr McCreadie;
The DPP has made allegations of a whispering campaign emanating from government and other sources
The DPP has foreshadowed further possible inquiries and indicated that he does not trust the government by saying that he is only prepared to discuss the matters with His Excellency, the Governor;
Mr Bartlett refused to explain how, if due process was followed, and the advice was relevant, why the advice that resulted in Mr McCreadie’s appointment not going ahead wasn’t sought before he announced the appointment;
Mr Bartlett tried today to claim there was “no appointment” when he issued a media release last week entitled “Acting Police Commissioner appointed” and that says: “Premier Bartlett today announced the appointment of former Police Commissioner Richard McCreadie as acting commissioner. This would indicate an alarming lack of concern for details and processes of government;
Mr Bartlett patronisingly described the call that was made to the “former” Acting Police Commissioner Darren Hine last night, not by him, but his departmental secretary, to advise him of the aborted appointment of Mr McCreadie as “good news”;
Mr Bartlett refused to say whether the circumstances that existed last week that led him to pass Mr Hine over for McCreadie, citing his wish to avoid placing any undue stress on Mr Hine, still existed. He also wouldn’t say how he came to this view in the first place;
Mr Bartlett indicated that he was “frustrated” about the fact that the process of appointing Mr McCreadie had been thwarted, which is hardly a vote of confidence in Mr Hine, the Solicitor General or the DPP;
Mr Bartlett has refused to explain why, if Mr Johnston was only formally suspended yesterday, he issued a media release last week confirming Mr Johnston’s suspension;
The Police Minister, Jim Cox, and the Attorney General, Lara Giddings, appear to have been completely sidelined by the Premier in this appointment process;
Mr Cox could not explain the contradiction between telling Parliament earlier this year that he would never seek to influence a Commissioner of Police in operational matters, and telling ABC radio last week that he intended to sit down with Mr McCreadie on Monday morning to discuss whether Mr McCreadie could or could not make changes to policy in his acting role
“This is a mess that is well and truly of Mr Bartlett’s making and yet when he was given the opportunity to be open and honest about what transpired, he failed,” Mr Hodgman said.
“This is not about David Bartlett needing to save face, this is about the interests of Tasmania and Tasmanians and the appalling standards of governance in this State and there must be a Commission of Inquiry, (Royal Commission) into these matters.
“This is a complete fiasco that has been triggered by the cavalier approach, arrogance and total disregard for due process and details that are the hallmarks of this Premier’s style. For him to chant his mantra of openness and accountability when this is so at odds with reality just highlights what a fraud he is.”
Shadow Police and Emergency Services Minister, Rene Hidding, said Tasmania’s 1200 sworn police officers could not believe the incompetence of this government and its poor treatment of Mr Hine.
“As well as slurring Mr Hine, Mr Bartlett has totally undermined confidence in his Police Minister in the way he sidelined him in this process,” Mr Hidding said.
“If Mr Bartlett was at all concerned about not causing Mr Hine what he called “undue stress” then he needs to explain how on earth his own actions over the last few days have achieved this.
“And if Mr Bartlett can’t even get the appointment of an Acting Police Commissioner right, how can he be trusted to govern the State?”
