PERTH CASINO ROYAL
COMMISSION — HON NEVILLE OWEN
446. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Attorney General:
I
refer to the Attorney General's joint press conference with the
Minister for Racing and Gaming on 5 March in which he announced that
Justice Neville Owen would be appointed as lead commissioner for the Royal
Commission to inquire into and report on the affairs of the Crown Casino Perth
and related matters.
(1) Is it true
that the Attorney General told a journalist on 3 August that if he had known of
the business and personal connections
between Justice Owen and Mr Kerry Stokes, he would not have supported the
decision to appoint Justice Owen?
(2) When the
Attorney General learnt of the connection, did he raise concerns with anyone
about the independence of the royal commission, given the perceived or the
potential of real conflict that exists between those investigating Crown and
its current and former executives?
Mr J.R.
QUIGLEY replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the
question. In March this year, I fully supported the appointment of the
Honourable Neville Owen to the Perth Casino Royal Commission as a royal
commissioner. He had my full confidence in his integrity to conduct that
function as an eminent jurist, and he still has my full confidence as an
eminent jurist to continue with his work. He has my full support.