Media Release, 16th March 2022
Dangerous trend to secrecy continues in Collaery case
· Justice Mossop’s decision to allow new secret court-only evidence in the Collaery case goes against principles of open justice;
· Justice Mossop’s decision to allow a court appointed lawyer to ‘to represent his [Collaery’s] interests in relation to the secret material,’ is an insult to the highly respected barristers representing Collaery who already have to comply with secrecy orders.
Supporters will gather at the ACT Courts at 8.30am on Friday morning, 18th March, to protest this ongoing erosion of democratic principles in our justice system.
“This decision by Justice Mossop is an appalling attack on our system of open justice,” said Kathryn Kelly a co-convenor of the Alliance Against Political Prosecutions. “This is a very dangerous situation we have arrived at, and goes against the spirit of the Appeal Court’s judgement in favour of the public’s right to know,” she said.
This case, along with those of ADF whistleblower David McBride and ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle, are of serious concern to many Australians as well as members of the judiciary. They signal an unhealthy desire for secrecy by the government, instead of welcoming people who are prepared to speak out against wrong doing by government. A strong federal ICAC is needed to correct this trend,” said Ms Kelly.
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Contact AAPP Co-convenors
Kathryn Kelly 0417 269 984
Sister Susan Connelly 0498 473 341
Australian Alliance Against Political Prosecutions
PO Box 549, Curtin 2605, Australia
website: https://aapp.ipan.org.au/
Twitter: @DProsecutions