Murray-Darling Royal Commissioner Bret Walker accuses Federal Water Minister David Littleproud of ‘deplorable’ behaviour
IN an extraordinary outburst the Murray Royal Commissioner has accused Federal Water Minister David Littleproud of “deplorable” behaviour.
IN an extraordinary outburst, the Murray royal commissioner has accused Federal Water Minister David Littleproud of “deplorable” behaviour.
Tension has been building between the state’s Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission and the Government over an ongoing legal barney about whether Federal employees should be able to be compelled to give evidence.
That tension spilled over yesterday at a commission hearing when commissioner Bret Walker SC took aim at Mr Littleproud for publishing a letter about the commission on his website that contained “highly contestable propositions of fact, law and mixed fact and law”.
Mr Walker said it was “highly irregular and inappropriate” behaviour
– but Mr Littleproud said that reaction to a letter was “amazing”.
Mr Littleproud said the letter was just a letter, not a submission, and written to correct the record following incorrect assertions made by the Commissioner.
He said it needed to be made clear the Basin Plan was legal and valid.