Victoria Police rejects FOI requests for information about car crash involving Premier’s wife

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has denied he interfered to stop the release of documents detailing an investigation into a collision involving his wife after a freedom of information request was rejected.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews with his wife Catherine Andrews. Picture: AAP

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has denied he interfered to stop the release of documents detailing an investigation into a collision involving his wife after a freedom of information request was deemed to not be in the public interest.

It comes after revelations that an internal review into officers who did not perform a breath test on Catherine Andrews ended with the two police officers being let off with a warning.

The father of the 15-year-old cyclist injured in the crash confirmed to the Herald Sun that he was still waiting to hear from the Premier and his wife more than four years later.

Mrs Andrews was at the wheel of a taxpayer-funded car in Blairgowrie when it collided with the teenage boy on about 1.30pm on January 7, 2013.

The boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery to stem internal bleeding, also suffering a punctured lung, broken ribs and cuts.

Mr Andrews today directed all questions to Victoria Police.

“As I have said this was a traumatic incident for everybody involved and I again take the opportunity to wish the family all the very best for the future,” he said.

“I want to be very clear with you that in terms of the most recent coverage neither I nor anybody in my office had anything to do, or any involvement in that matter and I have no further comment to make,” he said.

When asked about allegations made in parliament that their was an alleged cover-up involving members of the United Firefighters Union Mr Andrews said: “I have absolutely no comment to make on that.”

Victoria Police officers arriving at the scene did not follow standard procedure and failed to breathalyse the then Opposition Leader’s wife and an internal investigation was launched.

But four years on, Victoria Police has denied Freedom of Information requests by Channel 9 into the details of the crash and into the internal investigation of the officers.

Both requests were rejected on grounds that they were not in the public interest.

In total, 38 pages of notes were requested including three pages of the car Mrs Andrews was driving at the time, two pages of witness statements and a two-page statement from Mrs Andrews.

Victoria Police said in a statement that the Professional Standards Command had finished their investigation into two members failing to follow policy.

“The two attending member failed to conduct a PBT on the driver of the vehicle involved in the collision.

“Both members were administered Workplace Guidance and the matter has been finalised.”

Mr Andrews said the crash was a deeply traumatic event for all involved and wished the father and his son all the best.

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