Mark
The Australian: TASMANIAN Premier David Bartlett has accused the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions of making “completely false assertions” and acting politically, deepening the political and legal crisis surrounding his Government. Mr Bartlett, accused by DPP Tim Ellis SC of having “close and current” links with a suspended police commissioner and the former top cop the Premier sought as his replacement, yesterday questioned Mr Ellis’s credibility. Claiming to be the “victim” of “complete falsehoods” spread by Mr Ellis, Mr Bartlett told parliament everything the DPP had written on the subject should be treated with “scepticism”. “I will not allow my name to be dragged through the mud by the DPP,” Mr Bartlett said, accusing Mr Ellis of “involving himself in political matters”. However, Mr Bartlett did not rule out an independent inquiry into the affair and said he was seeking advice on ways to resolve “a very complex constitutional situation”. Opposition parties tried unsuccessfully to pass a motion of no confidence in Mr Bartlett, and stepped up demands for a Royal Commission, accusing the Premier of misleading parliament. However, there were signs the Premier and the DPP might seek a way out of their high-stakes warring, with both yesterday agreeing to meet soon in the presence of witnesses to discuss the issue. Read more here
ABC Online: The Premier David Bartlett is taking advice on how to deal with what he’s calling the constitutional problem facing Tasmania. Mr Bartlett is hoping a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis will resolve the impasse between the two men. The DPP is still refusing to say why it was inappropriate to bring the former police commissioner Richard McCreadie out of retirement to fill in for the suspended police chief Jack Johnston who’s facing criminal charges. But Mr Ellis has agreed to meet Mr Bartlett. Read more here
