The conjecture surrounding royal commissioner Neville Owen became murkier today when the Premier repeatedly obfuscated after being asked to clarify his own role in the appointment.
The conjecture surrounding royal commissioner Neville Owen became murkier today when the Premier repeatedly obfuscated after being asked to clarify his own role in the appointment.
“I can’t tell you exactly how his name was put forward,” premier Mark McGowan said today.
“It must have been within the Cabinet process.”
Police minister Paul Papalia had a slightly better memory when asked the same question this morning.
“I believe it was probably the premier who raised it with me but I talked to the Attorney General as well,” he told 6PR radio.
Mr Papalia had a key role in setting up the Perth Casino Royal Commission, in his former capacity as racing and gaming minister.
His initial plan was to have an inquiry led by two people – Colin Murphy and Lindy Jenkins.
In light of revelations at NSW’s Bergin inquiry, he said the government upgraded the inquiry to a full royal commission and decided to add a third commissioner.
“The Attorney General and the premier and myself discussed the fact Neville Owen was there and potentially someone else we could put onto the inquiry,” he added.
Attorney General John Quigley has already told media that he was not involved in selecting the commissioners.
That prompted journalists to seek clarification from the premier, but he repeatedly failed to say whether or not he put forward Mr Owen’s name.
“I couldn’t tell you exactly how all the people were selected, it was a Cabinet process,” he said today
The questions around Mr Owen follow concerns of a potential or perceived conflict of interest given his personal and commercial links to Kerry Stokes.
As Business News has previously reported, Mr Stokes has links to four witnesses at the royal commission – Maryna Fewster and Tim Roberts have already been called as witnesses and it is assumed James Packer and John Alexander will be called.
There are also question marks over the adequacy of Mr Owen’s disclosures, as he initially failed to reveal he is a director of three companies in Mr Stokes’ business empire.
The most notable is Clabon Pty Ltd – it is the parent company and 100 per cent shareholder in Australian Capital Equity, which is the central company in Mr Stokes’ extensive business empire.
That empire includes controlling stakes in Seven Group Holdings and Seven West Media, publisher of The West Australian.
The premier defended Mr Owen’s suitability for the royal commission role, saying he was an eminent jurist, well qualified and highly respected.
“I realise there is this huge effort to undermine the royal commission, I don’t understand why,” he said.
“I think the character assassination needs to stop.”
He also insisted there were no conflicts of interest regarding Mr Owen and Mr Stokes.
“I realise there is this grand conspiracy theory being created but there are no conflicts.
“He doesn’t have interests in casinos, he doesn’t have interests in hotels, none of the parties do.”
The premier said journalists asking him questions may be missing the real story.
“There are, no doubt, people who will want to undermine the royal commission for their own reasons, that will be the real story.”
He did not name any names.
