Media Statement

Senator Jacqui Lambie

12.2.16

Heydon Royal Commission Secret Volumes: No threat to the power and authority of the Australian State - Lambie

JLN Independent Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has called on Prime Minister Turnbull to redact and de-identify the secret volumes of the Heydon Royal Commission and release them to all Senators, under special circumstances, after she read the secret report.

“When I was finally allowed to read the secret volumes of the Heydon Royal Commission, I expected to find, as commissioner Heydon wrote: grave threats to the power and authority of the Australian State.

The only grave threat I found was to the credibility of the Liberal government.” said Senator Lambie.

“I didn’t find anything like a grave threat to our nation’s power or authority. In fact, the average Australian would find that sort of warning is grossly misleading – and that is why all Senators – no matter what political party they belong to, should be able to make up their own minds - after viewing redacted and de-identified secret volumes.

The Liberal government made a fuss about Labor politicians viewing these secret volumes. They were treating the Australian public like mugs! The Liberals were caught out trying to cover-up their lie. The Royal Commissioner had already made the secret volumes available to all of Australia’s Premiers, including Labor’s state leaders and their staff weeks earlier!” said Senator Lambie.

“After reading the two slim secret volumes in about a hour, I was left with the feeling that taxpayers had been ripped off after paying out $80M for them. The last secret volumes I’d read were from the Defence Abuse Review Taskforce (DART). Unlike Heydon’s two slim secret volumes – the 33 secret defence abuse files were thick, heavy ring bound folders; about 10 cm thick – and it took myself, and a staff member 5 hrs. each, just to skim those top secret files.

The defence abuse secret volumes showed a real threat to the power and authority of the Australian state – by proving that our defence force senior officers had denied and covered-up brutal rapes, sexual assaults and pedophilia in our ADF for decades.

However in comparison Heydon’s secret files are just proof of corruption linked to both sides of politics. And further confirmation we need an independent and properly resourced federal anti-corruption watchdog with real legislative teeth – to chase corruption, crime and misconduct – wherever it may appear - either in unions or the business world.” said Senator Lambie.

“I should have realized something was not right earlier in the week when at Estimates; I questioned the head of ASIO Director General Lewis about Commissioner Heydon’s multiple grave threats to the Australian state. Mr Lewis had not even heard about them! You would think if there were genuine grave threats to our Nation’s sovereignty – then ASIO at the very least would be asked to take an interest, as well as being alerted.

Unfortunately the video of estimates shows that when it came to the Heydon Royal commission secret volumes and their grave warnings, ASIO were clueless. Which is a very odd situation.

Click below to view ASIO Chief being questioned about Heydon’s secret volumes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7EqYbKWryk

I felt sorry for the head of ASIO Director General Lewis who tried very hard to answer my questions about commissioner Heydon’s secret reports, despite Attorney General Brandis’s continual interruptions. Unfortunately, the ASIO chief was just as much a victim of this Liberal government beat up, as the rest of us.” said Senator Lambie.

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