NSW:Public servants won't front power inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2010
NSW:Public servants won't front power inquiry

SYDNEY, Dec 29 AAP - NSW Premier Keneally has indicated public servants won't be allowed
to give evidence before a parliamentary inquiry into the state's power sell-off.

The inquiry's legality has been disputed by the premier, who claims her shock proroguing
of parliament last week - two months earlier than expected - means it can't proceed.

Referring to advice from the Crown Solicitor, Ms Keneally has maintained witnesses
can't be offered parliamentary privilege.

In Sydney on Wednesday, the premier was asked whether she would allow treasury officials
to give evidence.

"The government relies on the Crown Solicitor's advice, unless he indicates otherwise,
that such committee's do not provide any legal standing," she replied, adding this meant
it could not legally summon witnesses or offer them parliamentary protection.

"That situation would not be a situation in which we would have public servants attending
an inquiry."

However, Ms Keneally told reporters she has asked the Crown Solicitor to confirm his 1999 advice.

She said the Department of Premier and Cabinet had written to the Crown Solicitor "seeking
his confirmation that his advice he provided then remains as he provided then".

She said the Crown Solicitor was on leave until January 10 and he had been asked to
reply as soon as possible.

Opposition and crossbench MPs have accused the government of trying to derail the inquiry
into the contentious $5.3 billion partial privatisation ahead of the March state election.

The upper house inquiry is expected to embarrass the government in the weeks before
the state poll, with hearings on January 17 and 18, and a report handed down on January
31.

AAP mss/tr/cdh

KEYWORD: ELECTRICITY

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.