NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, police chief Mick Fuller clash over Christian Porter rape claims
NSW Police chief Mick Fuller had a running battle with the MP during a heated budget estimates hearing.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has rejected suggestions he colluded with federal politicians about an investigation into a rape allegation made against Attorney-General Christian Porter, but says the police are reviewing the protocols around how sexual assault victims interact with the criminal justice system.
With NSW Police facing scrutiny over the decision to close an investigation into the historical rape allegation levelled against Mr Porter, Mr Fuller faced questioning about the processes which led to Strike Force Wyndarra being concluded.
“Custom and practice for us is if the victim withdraws the matter, outside the victim care aspect of it is that the matter is finalised. And that is not for the Attorney-General, that is for every matter,” Mr Fuller told budget estimates on Friday morning.
“Whether that is right or wrong, there are certainly things that we are looking at the moment with a whole broader range of things around the journey for victims in the justice system, particularly around sexual assault and historic sexual assault.”
While the woman prepared a lengthy statement about her claims, Mr Fuller detailed the admissible evidence which would have been required for the matter to proceed, while providing an insight on the uphill battle for police to prosecute sexual assault cases.
“The only possible evidence ... which would have some forensic value on this case getting into the justice system is a signed statement from the victim which would be in such detail and her credibility was at such a high, that the DPP would allow the prosecution to continue,” he said.
“I’ll give you the figures, I think we have the 100 per cent of complaints we get of adult sexual assault are able to proceed 10 per cent. “And I think we win 10 per cent of those at trial, right? So that is hard. And it’s a hard journey for the victim.”
Besides a briefing with Police Commissioner David Elliott the day after deciding not to progress with the matter, Mr Fuller denied having spoken to any member of the federal or state government during the process.
“Just to be sure that at no point in time in this matter, have I had any communication with any member of government – federally, or from a state perspective,” he said.
Greens Legislative Council member David Shoebridge and Mr Fuller had a running battle throughout the estimates hearing, clashing over the several questions the Police Commissioner took on notice, particularly whether NSW Police made applications to send officers to SA to investigate the matter.
“I don’t believe there was. It wasn’t safe to travel … there was a world-wide pandemic Mr Shoebridge, you might have missed that,” Mr Fuller said, before taking the question on notice.
“Of course, my preferred default position would be for you to provide the information today,” Mr Shoebridge said.
“Well, I’ll stop the organisation turning to try to answer all your questions,” Mr Fuller responded.
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