The Parliamentary Committee report on the bugging of a hundred New South Wales police on dodgy warrants has ended with a split finding along political lines. Labor, the Shooters Party and the Greens released a majority report with the fanciful recommendation that " the premier and police minister demonstrate to the community that the two deputy commissioners can maintain a professional relationship. " It is perfectly clear that Nick Kaldos was the wronged party - and the finding called for him to receive an apology. The government will soon table it's own minority report.
This curious matter has been simmering in police ranks for more than a decade. Over a hundred senior police had their homes and offices bugged, but the real targets were Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldos and Channel 7 journalist Steve Barrett. Both the present police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Police Internal Affairs received adverse criticism for not settling this matter sooner - but both will keep their jobs - and as the Commissioner is retiring in several months, it leaves the matter of his successor in limbo.
This has been a dogs breakfast as far an enquiries go - and as is usual when politics intrude on rationality - it is ending in a pitiful whimper. There is a vague suggestion about setting up some sort of new administration to oversee the issuing of future warrants. The use of a corrupt police officer wearing a wire to circulate at a social function and attempting to trap police into making indiscreet comments is deplorable. The warrants used to authorise these buggings were seriously deficient under the existing rules - and yet it seems nobody has been called to account and that issue has lapsed.
Trying to reach a conclusion on this war within the upper ranks of our police force costs millions and involved a long and tedious enquiry by the Ombudsman, which left many questions unanswered. It is quite clear where the feelings of rank and file police stand in this matter. The fact that when Nick Kaldos took the stand the room broke into applause is something the government would be wise to consider. They will shortly have the task of selecting a new commissioner - and surely the best way to settle this present unease would be to promote a person who has the confidence and support of the men and women who look to the commissioner for leadership.
It seems to be the way of parliamentary enquiries to be discreet and not ruffle too many feathers. This was clearly a case of a power struggle at the very top of our police force - and the methods used to blacken reputations and stymie promotion could be termed as "running a vendetta ". In fact, the aspersions cast caused some senior people to leave the force in disgust - and led to at least one case of suicide. The finding merely calls for apologies - and no heads roll. Are we seriously expected to believe that the tensions that led to this tactical war between senior ranks has now been settled and goodwill prevails - with the shaking of hands - and good relations restored ?
Years of turmoil and millions of dollars spent - and all we get is a mild reproof that "more should have been done ". Instead, a "Don't rock the boat " ethos prevails and exactly the same people will have their hands on the levers of power.
Whatever happened to the notion of delivering "justice " ?
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