The New South Wales government has released three potentially controversial documents during the Icac hearings into the Liberal party, a move that has drawn criticism but also deflected attention from the corruption inquiry.
Reports Tabled Amid Hearings
The first document, a long-awaited report into hate speech laws by former supreme court justice John Sackar, was tabled by Attorney General Michael Daley while Liberal leader in the upper house, Damien Tudehope, was giving evidence at Icac. The report had been gathering dust since November, with the government arguing it was 'cabinet in confidence'. Labor minister John Graham was suspended over the refusal to release it in May.
On Tuesday afternoon, Daley announced the government would not implement the report's key recommendation to expand the offence of inciting hatred on racial grounds to other attributes like religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, citing 'complex questions'.
Timing Defended
Premier Chris Minns defended the timing of the release, saying, 'It wasn't released at midnight and on Sunday. It was during work hours, at the beginning of the work week. It had been asked for by the cross bench repeatedly.'
The government also released legal advice on Wednesday regarding a committee report that found Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling lied under oath. Daley said the advice showed the committee's findings were unfounded.
Political Advantage Denied
Despite claims of not taking political advantage, Minns has made pointed references to the Liberals' troubles. As Tudehope gave evidence, Minns mentioned the shadow attorney general 'who is in the news at the moment'. He also referenced Chris Rath, another Liberal frontbencher involved in the Icac inquiry.
Minns acknowledged the inquiry might not benefit Labor, saying, 'My concern is that people say, Well I've seen Labor at Icac, and I've seen the Liberal party at Icac. I'm going to vote for a third party this time.'
