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FOR PRESS 15 February 1978
INQUIRY CONCERNING PUBLIC DUTY AND PRIVATE INTEREST
The Prime Minister announced today that Sir Nigel Bowen had
agreed to chair an inquiry into matters relating to Public
Duty and Private Interest. The inquiry had been foreshadowed
in Mr Fraser's press release of 16 December 1977.
Sir Nigel, who is Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Australia,
will be assisted in the inquiry by Sir Cecil Looker and
Sir Edward Cain. Their considerable experience in the worlds
of business and administration will be of invaluable assistance.
Sir Nigel Bowen had a distinguished care ' er as a senior Minister
and prior to that was an eminent jurist. Sir Cecil Looker is a
prominent business man with considerable expertise. Sir Edward
Cain, who served as Commissioner of Taxation prior to his
retirement in 19-76, has an enviable record as an administrator.
The inquiry has been asked to consider whether principles and
measures can be drawn up to promote the avoidance and if
. necessary the resolution of conflict of interest situations.
It will have access-f-to a large amount of information already
available on policies, pract%-ices and attitudes in. Australia
and overseas.
The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry are attached.
.4 o PTO..
INQUIRY CONCERNING PUBLIC lPiTY AYD PRIVATE INTEREST
TERMS OF, RHEERENCE-
1. To recommend whether a statement of principl. es can
be drawn up on the nature of private interests,
pecuniary or otherwise, which could conflict with
the public duty of any or all persons holding positions
of public trust in relation to the Commnonwealth.
2. To recommend whether principles can be defined which
oudpromote the avoidance and if necessary'the
resolution of any conflicts of interest which the
Inquiry may, under paragraph above, find to be,
possible.
3. In th[ ento a fning undi~ r paragra'-abov
that principles can be de indtrcmenwh.
those principles -should be.
4. Without limiting the 8cope of paragraph above,
to recom-na .; hethier or not a reg ister uinder judicial
or other su-prvision should be maintained so that, in,
the event of allegations of impropriety, the
allegation may be,* open to judicial inv~ s~ 1axr n
" r pr.
d ionoi~ g
Ministuel Se ,, tors. ani~ A: bqs fte os f Representatives
nd ( band
i2V 6 h ar~ rpi+ c~ oe : ors. it ns c'ass~ s7: Of p1 e,. ons * which
innT tBU. e -opin~ ion of the -Cormmittee.* o ught to be