PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
MR COURT'S PROPOSED INQUIRY
The inquiry into the Easton affair proposed by the Premier of Western
Australia, Mr Court, and his Liberal Party should be abandoned because it is
a flagrant abuse of the State's statutory processes.
This proposed action would breach an important protocol of Australian
politics that the judicial process should not be abused in the pursuit of
purely political objectives.
No self-respecting judge, former judge, Queen's Counsel or barrister should
consent to be party to this flagrant abuse of the system. The politicallymotivated
inquiry threatened by Mr Court should be treated with the utter
contempt it deserves.
Mr Court and the WA Liberals know that in relation to the Easton matter, no
present or past member of the Western Australian Parliament committed any
illegality. Nor was there any maladministration, or fraudulent use of
taxpayers' money. The tabling of the Easton petition has already been
reviewed twice by the State Parliament, and the debate over it is now purely
a political matter.
There are absolutely no objective grounds upon which Mr Court can justify
the provision of public funds, and the abuse of the statutory process, for the
inquiry he now proposes.
It is an improper ploy, and such an inquiry would devalue the integrity of any
person who agreed to conduct it.
CANBERRA MAY 1995 41/ 95
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
05/05/1995
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9565
Document:
00009565.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP MR COURT'S PROPOSED INQUIRY
9565