Corruption and Crime Commission head Len Roberts-Smith has referred two reports it was preparing on the leaked draft report concerning panel beater Pasqualie Minniti and WA Police to Parliamentary Inspector Malcolm McCusker.
Corruption and Crime Commission head Len Roberts-Smith has referred two reports it was preparing on the leaked draft report concerning panel beater Pasqualie Minniti and WA Police to Parliamentary Inspector Malcolm McCusker.
Mr Roberts-Smith said the reports would be best referred to Mr McCusker in light of claims by backbencher John Quigley that the CCC had breached its own act by supplying Premier and Opposition Leader with copies of the report before it was tabled in Parliament.
The reports concerned the delivery of an extract to former police minister John D'Orazio and the leaking of the information therein to a WA newspaper.
Mr Roberts-Smith also said that his decision to provide advanced, confidential, embargoed copies of the report that contained information on Mr D'Orazio delivered to the offices of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition was in accordance with recognised practice and for the purpose of the CCC Act.
"Under these circumstances, I do not intend to stand aside or to suspend any Commission officer," Mr Roberts-Smith said.
The full text of an announcement from the CCC is pasted below
Following allegations made in the Western Australian Parliament yesterday, the Commission has referred two reports it was preparing on aspects surrounding the recent draft report on inappropriate relationships between WA Police and a northern suburbs panel beater to the Parliamentary Inspector for completion.
Commissioner Len Roberts-Smith QC said the first report concerned the delivery of an extract of a draft report to Mr D'Orazio at Parliament House in April.
The second involved the leaking of information about Mr D'Orazio from a report on inappropriate relationships between WA Police and a northern suburbs panel beater before it was to be tabled in the Parliament last Friday.
Mr Roberts-Smith said referring these matters to the Parliamentary Inspector was the most appropriate action following allegations by Mr John Quigley yesterday that the Commission may have breached its Act in handing embargoed copies of the report to the offices of the Premier and Leader of the Opposition.
"The two reports being prepared by the Commission will also cover aspects of the complaint made by Mr Quigley.
"Under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act, the Parliamentary Inspector has extensive powers to investigate all aspects of the Commission's work so it is most appropriate that he assumes responsibility for reporting on these three matters."
Mr Roberts-Smith also said that his decision to provide advanced, confidential, embargoed copies of the report that contained information on Mr D'Orazio delivered to the offices of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition was in accordance with recognised practice and for the purpose of the CCC Act.
"Under these circumstances, I do not intend to stand aside or to suspend any Commission officer," Mr Roberts-Smith said.
