A statement regarding request to AFP to investigate Witness K/Collaery leak

I have today written to the Australian Federal Police requesting they investigate the leaking of advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions to Attorneys-General Brandis and Porter, in relation to the prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery.

On ABC TV yesterday, a journalist referred to this advice when defending the Government’s decision to go after Witness K and Mr Collaery. If what the journalist said was true, then the AFP must investigate because it is a very serious crime to leak protected information, and the community should be very concerned that it was done for political purposes.

More broadly the decision to prosecute Witness K and Mr Collaery is an insane development because it was illegal to bug East Timor’s cabinet rooms in 2004. Frankly the Government should establish a Royal Commission into the whole affair rather than trying to turn Witness K and Mr Collaery into political prisoners.

A copy of the letter is attached.