Senior Minns, Catley staffers could be arrested after inquiry no show

Senior staffers to Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley could be arrested after not appearing at a parliamentary inquiry, which is examining what the government knew about the Dural caravan hoax.

Senior staffers to Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley have failed to appear at a parliamentary inquiry. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Senior staffers to Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley have failed to appear at a parliamentary inquiry, setting in motion a chain of events that could lead to their arrest.

The inquiry is examining whether the government knew a caravan full of explosives discovered in Dural was a “hoax” terror plot and a criminal “con job” when tough hate speech laws were pushed through parliament.

Mr Minns’ three most senior staffers and Ms Catley’s two top aides had been summonsed to appear on Friday, but they refused.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

At a hearing of the inquiry on Friday, chair Rod Roberts said all five had broken the law by failing to appear.

“For any witness not a member of parliament to decline to appear before a committee having been properly summoned to do so is an extremely serious matter,” he said.

It is against the law for a witness to fail to appear before a parliamentary inquiry if summonsed.

“The committee will now consider further action in relation to these witnesses,” Mr Roberts said.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“The committee seeks to question ministerial staff about who was present at the briefings held by the NSW Police (about the Dural caravan), what was discussed and what records were kept,” he said.

The Premier has argued that his staff should not be forced to appear, accusing parliament’s upper house of trying to intimidate staffers while chasing “conspiracy” theories.

Mr Roberts’ committee is now set to ask Upper House President Ben Franklin to seek warrants for the arrest of the staffers - Mr Minns chief of staff James Cullen and his two deputies, and Ms Catley’s chief of staff Ross Nielson and his deputy.

Mr Franklin will have the ultimate say on whether arrest warrants are sought.

Originally published as Senior Minns, Catley staffers could be arrested after inquiry no show