-Caveat Lector- >From the most informative news site on the web http://leviathan.weblogs.com Poached from http://www.smh.com.au/news/0011/19/national/national8.html Quiz the Speaker in public say Libs By ALEX MITCHELL, State Political Editor NSW Parliament Speaker John Murray should be questioned at public ICAC hearings into allegations of a cover-up in the Joe Tripodi sex scandal, the Opposition says. The demand was made as the Independent Commission Against Corruption prepared to interview Mr Murray this week about his knowledge of the alleged sex assault on a Young Democrat worker and how he officially responded to it. "This is a matter of grave public interest and it would be preferable if Mr Murray testified in public," shadow Attorney-General Chris Hartcher said. "I can't see how the public would be satisfied with anything less considering the way this episode has been scandalously mishandled from the very beginning. "Going behind closed doors just won't do." ICAC Commissioner Irene Moss is hoping to report to Parliament before Christmas on her inquiry. Apart from Mr Murray, the chief witnesses to be interviewed are the Speaker's ALP assistant Christian Gillies, clerk of the Legislative Assembly Russell Grove, Legislative Council President Meredith Burgmann and Democrats leader Arthur Chesterfield-Evans. On Friday Mr Murray, who has been described by Premier Bob Carr as "the finest Speaker we've ever had", held a meeting with fellow MPs and staff in his office to discuss the ICAC inquiry, instigated at the request of Police Commissioner Peter Ryan. When Ms Moss faces Parliament's all-party ICAC committee on Thursday, Coalition MPs will present her with a series of questions about Mr Murray's role, including: When did the Speaker first learn of the alleged sex attack and from whom? Did he immediately inform the police of the alleged criminal offence? If not, why not? Who did he tell? As Parliament's presiding officer, why didn't he enforce its code of conduct on reports of sexual harassment? Why did Mr Gillies write him a private report saying the Young Democrat had been drinking and was flirting? What was the purpose of this as-yet-unpublished report? The Sun-Herald has learnt that Mr Ryan called for the ICAC inquiry after police took the view there was little chance of their investigation going forward without a formal complaint from the woman. In Labor circles there is dismay that Mr Ryan has become the first police commissioner to call for an ICAC investigation. There is undisguised fury that Mr Ryan, the highest paid public servant in the State, has turned up the heat on the Carr Government. The bill's $660,000 ... and rising Whatever did or didn't happen in Room 1248, Joe Tripodi's office in State Parliament on the night of September 14, taxpayers are already footing a hefty bill. And as the number of official inquiries grows, so does the cost to taxpayers. Here are the five inquiries under way, with their estimated cost: The two-month police inquiry into the alleged sexual assault, headed by Detective Chief Inspector Brett Cooper of Sydney City Police - $100,000. Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into an alleged cover-up - $500,000. Police Internal Affairs inquiry into the original investigation - $5,000. Police Integrity Commission inquiry into the role of Detective Senior Sergeant Guy Pianta, an ALP branch official in Mr Tripodi's constituency - $50,000. Speaker John Murray's own investigation into events on the night of September 14-15 - $5,000. Total estimated cost so far is $660,000. And it isn't over yet. Still in the queue to get involved are the NSW Ombudsman, the Parliament's privileges committee and the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
