‘Too many inconsistencies between what Premier has said of the incident and the details provided by first responders’: David Davis
The community deserves to see the records of calls made by Premier Daniel Andrews on the day of a 2013 crash with a teen cyclist, including the triple-0 call, the state opposition says.
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Audio of Daniel Andrews’ triple-0 call from the scene of a 2013 crash with a teenage cyclist and the Premier’s phone records from the day should be publicly released, the state opposition says.
Friday’s Herald Sun revealed lawyers for bike rider Ryan Meuleman had launched a Supreme Court damages claim in an escalation of the dispute involving Andrews and his wife Catherine.
The statement of claim includes notes taken during the triple-0 call which Ryan’s lawyers say conflict with the Premier and his wife’s insistence that Catherine was driving at the time of the accident – and that “the cyclist hit our car”.
The notes from a Victoria Police running sheet state: “My caller (Andrews) was one who hit PT (patient) …”.
Ryan’s barrister Daryl Dealehr said Mr Andrews told police “a very different story” in his formal statement given at Springvale police station a month later.
“His exact words were … ‘I want to make it clear – the cyclist hit our vehicle’. Both versions cannot be true,” Mr Dealehr said.
Shadow special minister of state David Davis said it was “imperative for the injured boy and the community’s peace of mind that triple-0 releases the audio of Premier Andrews’ call”.
“This scandal continues to drag on with fresh revelations that the triple-0 call log appears to indicate that Premier Andrews may have been driving the car,” Mr Davis said.
“Premier Andrews should also release his phone records, to detail who he called on the day of the incident.
“There are too many inconsistencies between what Premier Andrews has said of the incident and the details provided by first responders.”
Mr Dealehr said he had been assured that “under normal circumstances, this triple-0 recording will still exist”.
Ryan’s legal team is suing major law firm Slater & Gordon for failing to conduct “a full and proper investigation into the circumstances” of the near fatal 2013 Blairgowrie smash.
They are accused of failing to act in the best interests of the then-teenage bike rider and breaching their duty of care and obligations to him when negotiating his $80,000 Transport Accident Commission compensation payout.
Slater & Gordon denies the claims and says it will defend the proceedings.
The Premier and his wife, as well as their children who were passengers in the car, could be called to give evidence if the case proceeds to court.
Mr Andrews’ chief of staff at the time of the January 2013 crash was current Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran.
Ryan has always insisted the Andrews’ car was “speeding” and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was struck 17m on from the Melbourne Rd and Ridley St intersection.
Mr and Mrs Andrews claim they came to a “complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary position” just “moments” before the collision.
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