Baird, Ayres should tell all about bugging: opposition

NSW Premier Mike Baird and police minister Stuart Ayres should reveal what they really know about the police bugging scandal – including giving the upper house inquiry access to all the documents and information they need to do their job, the opposition said yesterday.

‘The government are the only people who have all the information about this scandal,’ shadow attorney general Paul Lynch said.

‘They should release this information, including relevant affidavits and court records that they have deliberately withheld from the upper house inquiry.

‘The premier needs to explain what he knew and when he found out about it. Has he read the affidavits? When was he first briefed on Emblems? What has the commissioner told him and when? Why did his attorney general try to stymie the Inquiry?

‘When was minister Ayres briefed first on these issues? Has he read the Emblems report? If not, why not?

‘One way to clear the air is for premier Baird and minister Ayres to front the inquiry and explain what they knew and when.

‘They can also explain their dogged opposition to the inquiry being established in the first place – and they can also bring with them the documents they’ve so far refused to let the committee see.

‘These include critically important affidavits and court records showing how such listening-device warrants came to be issued.

‘Having failed to stop the inquiry and having failed through attorney general [Brad] Hazzard to derail it, the premier has refused to provide key information and documents at the inquiry. If he doesn’t provide it now, he becomes part of the cover up. He should provide it to the committee on Tuesday.

‘Mike Baird’s secrecy is undermining the work of the committee – a committee whose recommendations he now says he wants to consider before taking action,’ Mr Lynch said.