It TEL: PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. P. J. KEATING, MP
WA ROYAL COMMISSION
Recent statements by Mr~ Templeman and today's statement by
the WA Royal Comimission chairman, Mr Kennedy, that the
Commonwealth Government has impeded the ability of the
commission to obta~ in tax information are incorrect.
In particular I draw attention to the final paragraph of Mr
Kennedy's press statement of today.
I have received advice today from the Commissioner of
Taxation that 8 WA police unit is working with the Royal
Commission and that this unit is empowered to seek tax
information from the Australian Tax Office.
Further, the Commissioner of Taxation has advised that " we
stand ready to assist the Royal Commission by supplying
information to Its police unit, as authorised by Section 3E
( of theTaxAdministration Act)."
At this stage, I am Informed that no use has been made of
this facility.
If this has comie about because of friction between the
police unit and others associated with the Commission, as
some have suggested, this is not an issue for the
Commonwealth Government.
The central issue is to ensure that the public interest is
served arid that guilty parties are brought to account.
I am therefore disturbed by the implication that I and
subsequent Federal Treasurers have sought to obstruct this
process in any way.
That this Is not the case is made clear by successive
documents provided to me and to other Treasurers which I
have released with this statement. : D
-1 EL
Finally, I ami concerned that
suggesting that it is unable
successful conclusion. the Commission seems to be
to bring this matter to a
I am particularly concerned given the view of the chairman
of the Australian Securities Commission that his ability to
prosecute has been severely hamperedi by the existence of
this and other Royal Commissions.
CANBERRA May 14, 1992 141L18: Y I ! A0 1 U