Opposition write to Police Commissioner asking him to investigate a potential ICAC breach by Attorney-General Vickie Chapman
POLICE will be asked to investigate whether the South Australian Attorney-General Vickie Chapman has broken the law.
POLICE will be asked to investigate whether the South Australian Attorney-General Vickie Chapman has broken the law.
The Labor Opposition have written to Police Commissioner Grant Stevens asking for “urgent investigation and appropriate action” to determine if Ms Chapman has breached the legislation underpinning the operation of the state’s ICAC.
It follows revelations ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander claimed Attorney-General Vickie Chapman broke an agreement, during the week, by mentioning him in a statement about two Renewal SA executives on leave.
Shadow Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the events of the week were extraordinary.
“We have seen the state’s first law officer at odds with the Independent Commission Against Corruption,” Mr Maher said.
“It appears the Attorney-General may have made public statements that were not authorised by the ICAC Commissioner,” he said. “If that is the case a serious offence may have been committed.”
“The Labor Opposition has referred these matters for appropriate investigation.”
Ms Chapman declined to comment yesterday - for a second day in a row. On Thursday Ms Chapman issued a statement saying she had contacted Mr Lander about Renewal SA.
Ms Chapman said she inquired if Mr Lander had “any further information that can be made available on this matter” and had been told “there is not”. She said Mr Lander “at this stage will not be making a public statement on the matter”.
It followed a spirited debate in Budget Estimates in State Parliament when Infrastructure minister Stephan Knoll repeatedly indicated he could not answer questions about the Renewal SA executives on leave. On Friday Mr Lander said his recollection of a phone conversation with Ms Chapman on Thursday was that any statement about the two executives on leave would not reference ICAC.
Ms Chapman’s statement could not be published without Mr Lander’s authorisation.
“After I became aware of the Attorney’s statement I requested my chief executive to communicate with the Attorney’s office in relation to my recollection of the conversation,” Mr Lander said. “I was not intending to make a statement but in light of the Attorney’s statement I was of the view that I should state my position and authorise the publication of the Attorney’s public statement.”