Bushfires Royal Commission

Posted by Michael on March 14, 2009, 10:24am, 187 views

The Royal Commission into the Victorian bushfires should hold all its sessions in public.

It’s unheard of that such an important inquiry will hear submissions behind closed doors.

That’s the decision of Justice Bernard Teague, who says the community consultation sessions beginning on Wednesday in Myrtleford are not formal.

“The purpose of the community consultation sessions is to gather information and identify key issues for further research and investigation by the royal commission,” Justice Teague said in a statement.

“This is potentially very sensitive information which may be difficult for individuals to share. On that basis, the royal commission is working to provide a safe environment in which people can express their views.”

Justice Teague said all submissions and formal hearings would be public, except under special circumstances.

Nobody asked for the community sessions to be conducted in private. It seems to be the judge’s unilateral decision and he ought to reconsider.

As a former media lawyer he should be a champion of the public’s right to know.

These articles might be of interest: