Liberal Party South Australia: More inaccuracies from Atkinson Wednesday, 27 April 2005
Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has again come under fire from the Liberal Opposition for providing inaccurate statements.

“As first Law Officer of the State, the Attorney-General should be completely reliable in his statements to the public and to the Parliament,” Shadow Attorney General Robert Lawson said.

“Last year, a well-catalogued list of the Attorney’s inaccuracies was the subject of criticism in Parliament,” he said. (A list can be provided if requested.)

“Yet another example of the Attorney-General’s sloppy attitude to the facts occurred yesterday morning.

“The Attorney-General was interviewed by Matthew Abraham and David Bevan on ABC 891 concerning the actions of the Acting DPP Wendy Abraham QC in cautioning Nick Xenophon MLC about his comments in relation to the McGee case. Apparently Ms Abraham had issued no similar caution to the Premier or Deputy Premier.

“The Attorney-General told the radio audience that the reason why only Xenophon had been cautioned was, simply, that Xenophon had ‘ran into Wendy Abraham’.”

The transcript reads:
[Bevan] “…that was just a coincidence, was it?”
[Atkinson] “Yes”’

“Fortunately, Mr Xenophon was listening to the broadcast and called in to tell the true story, that Ms Abraham had asked to see him and he ‘didn’t just bump into her’,” Mr Lawson said.

“In this instance it was fortuitous that someone did call to correct the record. However, the public should be entitled to rely on the complete accuracy of statements made by the Attorney-General without having to wait for later corrections.

“Mr Atkinson should spend less time on spin and more effort in presenting the true story.”

Authorised by L Sist
104 Greenhill Road Unley 5061 South Australia 2005