This is a transcript of an interview
between Canberra Times reporter Noel
Towell and Chief Magistrate Ron Cahill
yesterday.
Q. Have you done anything wrong?
A. I’m very restrained about what I can
comment on and I’m not a person who likes
to comment on matters before they are
concluded.
But frankly, I am concerned with the status
that has been reached in the media so far, that
is a build-up of seriousness and what may or
may not happen.
But my view is that I have done nothing
wrong and I want to emphasise that I haven’t
had the opportunity to put my point of view
about what I did.
What I did is completely transparent and
I have never hidden what I did and it’s just
unfortunate that this publicity had to happen
without me saying that I clearly believe that I
have done nothing wrong.
I will fi ght to make sure that the character
damage done to me by this publicity is
rectifi ed.
Q. Have the police interviewed you?
A. Not as yet, and I don’t want to discuss that
sort of thing. But I am aware that a search
warrant has been executed and I’ll just make
it clear that had I been approached I would
have said that there’s no need for a search
warrant if you want to search my chamber
because I have nothing to hide.
The document is there, it’s on the public email.
There was no need for a search warrant and
I’ve said that to the police and I’d like to them
note that.
I was in Melbourne but I would have said they
could go and search whatever they liked. But
what was there to search. The document has
been put in a sealed condition and is available
to them.
Q. What about the wider effect of this
matter on the Magistrates Court?
A. Of course I’m going to look after myself
but I do regret the effect this is having on the
court and the sooner it’s resolved the better
and the sooner the full facts come out, the
better.
I am restrained in what I can say, by the
fact that the case involved is subject to
suppression order and I for one do not intend
to breach an order that I originally made.
The Attorney and I had a lengthy conversation
last week and I offered to produce a written
statement.
I’ve had nothing to hide, I’ve cooperated with
him and when the time comes for the police to
interview me, I’ll be telling them exactly the
same thing.
It’s just a pity that wasn’t done prior to some
of the actions that have been taken because
perhaps the debacle that occurred in court
might not have had to happen.
Q. When did you fi rst hear of this
investigation ?
A. There was no approach to me until after the
fact. I only found out when I went to see Peter
Lauritsen at lunchtime to see how he was going
and he asked me didn’t I know that the matter
had been aborted.
That’s the fi rst I knew that there were any
concerns about the document. No one contacted
me, no one approached me.
But I don’t want to say too much because I’m
desperate not to offend the suppression order
that’s been in force for some length of time.
That suppression order has led to me as the
object of attention.
But I will tell you now, that I will go to the
highest court in the land until the day I die
to ensure that my character should not be
besmirched.
Q. Did (Attorney-General) Simon Corbell ask
you to stand aside?
A. No. I have no intention of standing aside, if
someone orders me to, if there is a legal ruling, I’ll
challenge it. But I have no intention of standing
aside because I have done nothing wrong.
Others seem to have judged that differently, but
I wouldn’t know about that because I haven’t
spoken to anybody.
I have a lot of work to do in a very short
period of time, a very important conference to
organise, I have cases to fi nish, I have coronials
to hand down.
I could take the easy way out and go on leave,
I’ve got years of leave I could take. But I owe it
to the public and to the parties in the cases to
continue the matters, as diffi cult as it is for me.
The easy way out for me would be to say that
this is all too much. I’m stressed, very stressed
as you can probably gather. It’s not easy and
every day it seems to get worse.
Whatever happens, speculation goes on and on.
Q. How would you view the prospect of a
judicial commission?
A. That’s a decision for others to make. I
wouldn’t like it. I’d be hoping that the matter
would be resolved before then. But I can only
say what I’ve said.
I’m going to get legal advice and I’ve had some
preliminary discussions but I’m only saying this
because you’re asking me for my attitude.
I’d like nothing more than to go on television
and debate this matter but it’s not appropriate
and there’s the suppression order. The
suppression order is a problem for some of the
other people who are debating this. And I have
raised that with the Attorney-General.
Q. Where do we go from here?
A. I expect I’ll be interviewed by police and
when I am interviewed I’ll be totally frank and
answer any questions they want. As far as the
Attorney-General goes, he’s got his job to do and
it’s not an easy one. But I will have a statement
to him soon on the whole thing. We’ve had a
lengthy oral discussion on this thing.