MLC Rod Roberts says Karen Webb’s gin register raises more questions

A heavily redacted gift register shows where 32 bottles of taxpayer-funded gin went — but the politician who originally raised the issue says more questions need to be answered.

A “public relations” secondee brought in to clean up Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s media performances received one of the 50 bottles of gin Ms Webb bought on the taxpayer’s dime as a “farewell gift”.

Ms Webb was forced to release a “gift register” on Friday afternoon showing where bottles of “Commissioner’s Gin” had ended up, days after questions were raised about more than $11,000 spent on alcohol and gift boxes.

According to the heavily-redacted register, Ms Webb gave a bottle of gin to three separate police officers as a retirement gift. She also gave a bottle as a “farewell gift” to a PCYC executive.

The most recent gift was listed as going to a “secondee public relations” on June 28 this year, as a “farewell gift”.

The register also reveals that Ms Webb donated eight bottles of gin to an international policing group, Pearls in Policing, on May 18 last year — the day after 95-year-old Clare Nowland was allegedly tasered by a NSW Police officer. Ms Nowland later died in hospital.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s critics say she still has questions to answer. Picture: Damian Shaw

Nine bottles were donated for “corporate etiquette”, while two were donated for fundraising.

Of the 32 bottles distributed, 15 gifts were listed under the “dignitary” category.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that Ms Webb had purchased 50 bottles of personalised gin from Hope Estate, from long-term friend Michael Hope. Mr Hope said Ms Webb intended buy an extra 150 bottles but that did not go ahead. After initially insisting that she only purchased 50 bottles of gin, Ms Webb revealed yesterday that a second order of 50 bottles had arrived.

Ms Webb said they have “not yet been paid for … they will be returned”.

It is understood that the second shipment of 50 bottles arrived around the same time the whistleblower made the complaint to LECC.

The custom label on the bottles of gin that were given out as gifts. Picture: Supplied

A copy of the original invoice for 50 bottles of gin.

MLC and former cop Rod Roberts. Picture: Facebook

Former cop turned Upper House MP Rod Roberts, whose speeches in parliament first raised allegations about the taxpayer-funded gin, said Ms Webb’s latest statement raised more questions than it answers.

“Every time she makes a statement, something new turns up contradicting everything she says,” he said.

He questioned why only three officers received bottles of gin: “On perusal of this register, it appears as though there has been favouritism to certain retiring officers.”

He questioned the gift of gin to a staff member.

On Wednesday, Ms Webb told 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe that she had never tasted the gin.

“To suggest the bottles were purchased for personal and staff use is incorrect,” she said.

Mr Roberts said it now appears Ms Webb “misled the public with that statement”.

“The register shows it’s gone to a staff member,” he said.

A NSW Police spokesman said the names on the gift register had been redacted “to protect the privacy of the individuals”.

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