Palmer to resign after Rau report: judical inquiry needed into DIMIA scandals 35 Comments Add a Comment Commentary by Margo Kingston May 25, 2005 09:41 PM
The Government's private and legally powerless investigation into more than 200 unlawful detentions in five years could collapse, with Lateline reporting that its head Mick Palmer told Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone an inquiry with judicial powers was needed to get to the bottom of the scandal.
Lateline reported tonight that former AFP chief Mr Palmer had told immigration minister Senator Vanstone he would quit after delivering his report into the incarceration of Australian permanent resident Cornelia Rau for 11 months. It reported that Mr Palmer had told her that with more than 200 cases of incarceration of innocent poeple since 2000 now on his plate, and the deportation of Australian citizen Vivian Alvarez, a broader inquiry with judicial powers to interview and protect witnesses was now necessary. He would step down once he delivered the Rau Report by the end of June.
Mr Palmer issued a statement last Friday hinting at his plan, but Senator Vanstone and DIMIA officers today hid behind the Palmer inquiry to refuse to answer many questions on the Alvarez scandal.
Lateline's Tony Jones put it to Senator Vanstone four times that Mr Palmer had told her his investigation should give way to a broader inquiry with legal powers, but she would not answer:
Has Mr Palmer told you or your officers, verbally or in writing, that he believes these matters should go to an investigator with judicial powers like the Commonwealth Ombudsman?
"Look, I've had a number of discussions with Mr Palmer as to what should happen, but I'm happy to leave it to him to report officially to the government."
We understand that he has done so. Can you confirm that?
"As I've said, I've had a number of discussions, and I'm happy to leave it to Mr Palmer to put in his report, to recommend to the government what he believes should happen."
Can I put it to you that Mr Palmer has already recommended to you that the inquiry needs judicial powers?
"Mr Palmer's given me an indication of what he believes at this point would be appropriate, but I'm leaving it to him to finalise whatever conclusion he wants to."
Has he indicated to you that the inquiry needs judicial powers?
"Tony, I've answered your question."
No, you haven't, with respect.
"I have nothing further to add to it. You have asked me a number of times. I've indicated I've had discussions with Mr Palmer and I've indicated the process by which we'll get to the point of what to do with concluding this inquiry. I look forward to Mr Palmer's recommendation in his report."
Senator Vanstone refused to say whether she would act on a recommendation from Mr Palmer to call a judicial inquiry.
Senator Vanstone recently appointed Former Victorian Police Commissioner Neil Comrie to buttist Mr Palmer, and told Senate Estimates today that he was handling the Alvarez matter.
