Commissioner Of Police
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
The Hon. ELISABETH KIRKBY: My question without notice is directed to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, representing the Minister for Police and Minister for Emergency Services. Will the Minister confirm that the Minister for Police has said that Mr Lauer, the Commissioner of Police, knew of eight of the allegations made by the Hon. E. P. Pickering in this House before the allegations were released in this Chamber? Will the Minister inform the public when Mr Lauer became aware of these allegations and if he then reported that officer's concerns to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as that is essential under the Police Regulations (Allegations of Misconduct) Act? If he did not, why did he not?
The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: I thank the honourable member for her question. I noted those comments in the press today. I am not personally aware of the extent of Mr Lauer's knowledge in relation to these matters, or of the extent of the knowledge of the Minister for Police in relation to those matters. I will take the detail of the honourable member's question to the Minister and seek a reply to it. As the member properly has indicated, the changed legislation now requires notification to the ICAC and to the Ombudsman where such complaints are known in detail. I shall seek a response also to that part of the question and obtain a reply for the honourable member and the House.