DPP insults victims of crime, says MP By Craig Bildstien 06may06

THE self-confessed “villain” of Parliament, Nick Xenophon, yesterday demanded the State Government appoint an independent regulator to oversee the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In an address to the SA Press Club, Mr Xenophon described the behaviour of chief prosecutor Stephen Pallaras, QC, towards victims of crime and their families as “an insult”. He called on Attorney-General Michael Atkinson to instigate “decent, robust, independent” scrutiny of the DPP’s decision-making.

Mr Xenophon said Mr Pallaras needed “to be kept on his toes” and should be forced to answer questions about the way he prosecuted some cases. He suggested former Kapunda Road Royal Commissioner Greg James, QC, would be ideal to conduct an independent inquiry.

Mr Atkinson, who attended the forum, said later an organisational review of the DPP’s office was underway. He said the DPP’s office had emerged “unscathed” from Mr James’ inquiry into the hit-run death of cyclist Ian Humphrey. Asked about the status of Solicitor-General Chris Kourakis’s recommendation he appoint an independent counsel to provide advice independent to the DPP, Mr Atkinson said: “I’m thinking about it.”

Mr Humphrey’s widow Di Gilchrist, who attended yesterday’s lunch, supported Mr Xenophon’s call. “There needs to be some radical changes in the way cases are prosecuted,” she said. “Victims are not represented. They are treated as secondary items in the process.” Mr Pallaras refused to comment.