Police union members to face off with president in an attempt to have secrecy orders lifted in Samantha Strange case

Police union members have launched a bid to end the secrecy surrounding a case involving high-ranking officials.

A group of fed-up police union members have launched a push to lift a blanket secrecy order that has barred them from accessing any information about a case involving high-ranking officials.

The members say they’ve been kept in the dark despite use of union funds to pay the legal fees of president Mark Carroll, secretary Bernadette Zimmermann and the Police Association of South Australia (PASA).

All three are respondents in a case brought by former PASA deputy president Samantha Strange, who is understood to be seeking access to a range of documents – including some related to an independent investigation into the conduct of Mr Carroll.

Outgoing PASA president Mark Carroll. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

Former deputy president Samantha Strange.

A group of supporters have accompanied Ms Strange to hearings but have been denied entry to the courtroom due to a secrecy order made at Mr Carroll’s request.

Last week, one of the group – Paulene Porter – lodged her own application to lift the order.

“As a member of PASA I am in part funding the first, second and third respondent's opposition to this application,” she said in an affidavit.

“Coupled with the current lack of open justice of this matter, I am additionally being refused … all information both factual and financial that relates to the outstanding application and all minutes relating to decision-making are being kept from myself and other members.”

The secrecy order was made after Mr Carroll’s lawyer argued there was a risk of prejudice to the administration of justice and “obviously an element of hardship”.

PASA deputy president Wade Burns. Picture: Brenton Edwards

But Ms Porter said “such a position does not outweigh the need for open justice”.

“Justice in this matter needs to be seen to be done,” she said.

She contacted current deputy president Wade Burns to request union legal funding for her application but was told the committee of management had denied her request.

Like Ms Strange, she will personally fund her legal fees.

The application will be heard on Wednesday June 19, when a large group of supporters are expected to attend.

On Tuesday, The Advertiser posed a series of questions to PASA about funding arrangements for legal fees, transparency with members and the decision to deny Ms Porter’s request.

But no response was provided before deadline.

It comes after Mr Carroll earlier this year revealed he would finish up as president on July 5 – eight months before the end of his term and in the midst of an enterprise bargaining process. No reason was given for his early departure.

Four candidates have put their hand up in a by-election to decide who will replace him, including Mr Burns, who last week told members he would bring transparency to the role.

“I’ve always believed in openness, and I’ll certainly apply it to the presidency,” he said in an email.