Vic: Minister denies wrongdoing in OPI case

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2009
Vic: Minister denies wrongdoing in OPI case

MELBOURNE, April 6 AAP - A senior Victorian government minister has rejected allegations
that he tipped off former police assistant commissioner Noel Ashby that his phone was
tapped.

A leaked document, seen by AAP and other media, alleged Ashby met with a government
minister in April 2007 and was told "he should be careful" if he spoke with former police
association secretary Paul Mullett on the telephone.

Ashby resigned from the police force in 2007 after the Office of Police Integrity (OPI)
accused him of leaking sensitive police information to Mullett.

Both men have been charged in relation to the alleged leaks.

Fairfax radio host Neil Mitchell named the minister on Monday as Victorian roads and
ports minister Tim Pallas.

After a cabinet meeting on Monday, Mr Pallas fronted the media and vehemently denied
the allegations.

"At no stage do I accept that the allegations in respect to media circulation today
are correct," a defiant Mr Pallas told reporters.

"I have no knowledge of OPI investigations as roads minister, and I had no knowledge of those."

He admitted meeting Ashby on April 2, 2006, as alleged in the document, but said the
meeting was about road projects and tunnels.

The pair met on a number of occasions in Mr Pallas' capacity as roads minister and
Ashby's as assistant commissioner in charge of traffic.

He said they discussed an enterprise bargaining agreement for police but could not
say whether Mr Mullett's name arose in any of the conversations.

"I believe the issues of the police association and its EBA was raised, I can't be
certain about whether Paul Mullett in particular was," Mr Pallas said.

Mr Pallas also said he had "absolutely no doubt that all my ministerial colleagues
would have conducted themselves appropriately in these matters".

He also said the premier had full confidence in him.

"I can tell you I spoke to the premier immediately after cabinet and I told him what
my statement was to be today and he indicated his satisfaction with that statement."

Mr Ashby faces 13 counts of perjury, 13 of misleading the OPI and three of breaching
OPI confidentiality.

The report was allegedly prepared for Mr Ashby in a bid to have the police association
fund his legal defence.

Mr Mullett is also facing corruption charges arising from the OPI hearings.

Both Mr Mullett and Mr Ashby have denied any wrongdoing.

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KEYWORD: OPI PALLAS

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