AG says key legal reports will be withheld from Keogh inquiry
VICKIE Chapman says it is unlikely crucial legal opinions in the Henry Keogh payout case will be released to a parliamentary inquiry.
- Parliamentary inquiry into Henry Keogh’s $2.57m payout
- Wrongfully convicted of murder Keogh breaks silence
- Murder victim Anna Jane Cheney’s family demands answers
- Chapman denies conflict of interest in Keogh case
A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the controversial $2.57 million payout to Henry Keogh will start in a fortnight.
However, the Budget and Finance Committee inquiry has already hit its first hurdle with crucial legal reports likely to be withheld by the State Government.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman Monday said it was unlikely the legal advice commissioned by the former government that outlines the state’s liability to any civil claim by Mr Keogh would be released to the inquiry.
“Clearly, the position is all legal advice, like Cabinet documents, are privileged and protected,’’ Ms Chapman told a post-Cabinet press conference.
The Advertiser today revealed Labor was moving for the inquiry into the payout to Mr Keogh, with the support of one independent needed to secure it.
SA Best MLC Frank Pangallo yesterday said he would support the move, giving Labor the numbers to force the inquiry.
“There are more questions than answers surrounding the payout to Henry Keogh,” Mr Pangallo said.
“SA Best is supporting the call for the Budget and Finance Committee to investigate the reasons for the payout as we believe Labor, while in government, may not have been fully transparent of the implications when Mr Keogh’s conviction was overturned.
“South Australian taxpayers — not to mention the Cheney family — deserve to have all the facts made public. This inquiry will ensure that occurs.”
While his vote is not needed, independent MLC John Darley said he was uncertain if he would support the inquiry.
“I need to make a few inquiries before I make a decision,’’ he said.
Opposition Transport and Infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis yesterday disputed Ms Chapman’s claim of privilege over the legal advice.
He said the legal advice would only be protected if it had been commissioned as part of a Cabinet submission “which it had not.’’
“It was commissioned by the former Attorney-General, not as part of a Cabinet submission,’’ he said.
“This means this document is not part of the Cabinet process and there is no restriction on releasing it.
“If needed the committee can call for evidence and it would be a brave government to withhold it.’’
Ms Chapman reiterated the case had been finalised because “clearly it needed to be resolved’’ and it had been negotiated with the best interests of taxpayers in mind.
Henry Keogh was released from prison in December 2014 after serving two decades behind bars following his conviction for drowning Anna Jane Cheney in her bath in 1994. His conviction was quashed in 2014 because of flawed forensic evidence and a retrial ordered, but Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber QC subsequently dropped the murder charge because key witness pathologist Dr Colin Manock was too ill to testify.