Parliamentary inquiry into ‘bullying’ in SA Labor Party will go ahead, despite blackmail charges against Annabel Digance

Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman is resisting pressure to abandon a parliamentary inquiry into a “racist” Labor election campaign leaflet, despite a key witness facing blackmail charges.

Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman is resisting pressure to abandon a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of bullying in the SA Labor Party, despite a key witness facing blackmail charges.

Responding to questions about the future of the inquiry, Ms Chapman on Thursday vowed to press ahead and not succumb to a “desperate attempt by the (Labor) Opposition to deflect from alleged criminal behaviour within its own party”.

Former state Labor MP Annabel Digance and her husband Greg were both arrested at their Strathalbyn home on Wednesday morning and charged with blackmailing Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas.

At the end of last month, Ms Chapman successfully moved in state parliament to establish a select committee to investigate recent allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation made by Ms Digance, relating to the publication during the 2014 election campaign of “a racist publication by the ALP”.

The infamous leaflet targeted Ms Digance’s Liberal opponent in the seat of Elder, Carolyn Habib, now Power, asking voters: “Can you trust Habib?”.

Ms Digance claimed she was bullied into silence over the ‘Can you trust Habib?’ leaflet controversy.

Senior Labor figures are pushing for the select committee to be abandoned, arguing it would prejudice court hearings into the allegations against the Digances, but Labor has not publicly stated a position.

Influential crossbenchers – including the only one to vote in favour of the select committee, Waite MP Sam Duluk – have suggested pausing its hearings.

But Ms Chapman, also the Attorney-General, insisted the select committee, voted on by parliament, would “only investigate matters relating to the 2014 distribution of the ‘Can You Trust Habib?’ racist publication”.

“The charges laid yesterday relate to events that allegedly occurred in 2020 – six years later. These are subject to prosecution,” Ms Chapman said.

“Frankly, I find it galling that Labor is using this as a shield from acknowledging their actions in 2014 were racist and should play no part in future elections. Those responsible for this campaign must be held to account.

“The Labor Party need to answer to the events of 2014. The police, prosecution and courts are dealing with the separate 2020 events.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman says the inquiry into alleged bullying in the Labor Party during the 2014 election campaign will still go ahead.

Ms Chapman did not directly respond to questions from The Advertiser, including whether she was confident that the select committee hearings would not, in any way, prejudice court hearings into the allegations against Ms Digance and her husband.

Shadow attorney-general Kyam Maher said Ms Chapman was facing serious questions about her judgment, because she had spoken with Ms Digance in recent weeks as she sought to establish the parliamentary committee.

Mr Maher said these included whether she declared her involvement with the accused to the Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton QC, when “they discussed the matter prior to the (Digances’) arrest”.

“South Australians deserve an explanation as to why the state’s first law officer was interacting with this person and the nature of that interaction,” Mr Maher said.

Labor’s push to scrap the select committee, which predates the Digances’ arrest, has been buoyed by some support from crossbenchers.

Sam Duluk said it would be “prudent” for parliament to consider whether the inquiry should be paused while blackmail allegations are before the courts. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

The sole crossbencher to vote to establish the select committee, Mr Duluk, told The Advertiser on Thursday that it “would be prudent for parliament to consider the future suitability of the select committee given recent (blackmail) allegations now before the courts”.

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis, who abstained from the committee vote, said he was focused on his Yorke Peninsula electorate and had not considered whether or not the inquiry should be paused.

“I’ve got plenty of things that I’m focusing on that have a great deal more benefit to the electorate of Narungga than a 2014 election campaign poster in the city,” he told The Advertiser.

Florey MP Frances Bedford, who quit Labor in 2017 to become an independent, voted against the inquiry into the ALP, while the two other crossbenchers – Troy Bell and Geoff Brock – abstained.

They both told the ABC this morning they believe the inquiry should be paused.

If all crossbenchers voted, Labor would require the support of all five if it sought to overturn or pause the committee.

However, it is understood Labor has yet to decide whether to pursue this, given parliament does not sit again until May 4.

Ms Chapman on Wednesday told reporters the Digances’ blackmail charges would not disrupt the parliamentary inquiry, which will examine the conduct of the Labor Party during the 2014 election campaign.

“We’re yet to have discussions with the Labor Party as to any nominees they wish to have on that select committee, but we will certainly be progressing that as a parliament,” she said.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman has insisted that a parliamentary inquiry into claims of bullying and harassment in the SA Labor party will go ahead, despite ex-MP Annabel Digance - who made the allegations - being charged with blackmail @theTiser#saparlipic.twitter.com/krChnP5FNU

— Gabriel Polychronis (@G_Polychronis) April 14, 2021

Ms Chapman stressed the inquiry would be “independent” of the alleged blackmail offences committed by Ms Digance and her husband.

“They are of course very disturbing matters … but nevertheless, the inquiry relates to the 2014 conduct of the Labor Party.”

Ms Digance, who represented the seat of Elder from 2014 to 2018, recently came forward with allegations that she was bullied into silence over the “Can you trust Habib?” leaflet scandal in the lead-up to the 2014 state election.

The slogan referred to then Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib, who has since married and changed her surname to Power. She defeated Ms Digance at the following election.

Greg and Annabel Digance. Picture: Facebook

Ms Chapman said she informed Ms Digance of her intention to establish a select committee, but did not confirm if she would be called as a witness.

“It will be a matter entirely for her, and indeed Mr Digance, as to whether they ultimately give evidence in the select committee.

“The committee of course will make the determination about who they call, but I’ve certainly made her aware it was the intention of the government to invite the parliament to have a select committee and she noted that.”

Ms Chapman said the committee will also examine the role of state ALP secretary and Legislative Council candidate Reggie Martin’s role in the flyer’s distribution.