The NSW government has been accused of hypocrisy after a failed bid to extract internal communication between the Police Minister and the Premier’s office in the aftermath of the fatal tasering of 95-year-old Cooma resident Clare Nowland.
The opposition has continued to call for information on how Police Minister Yasmin Catley and the government responded to the incident, stating there was a “lack of accountability and a lack of transparency”.
Last week, documents obtained under a freedom of information order revealed the original media release provided for journalists was edited to remove mentions of a Taser and that the officer allegedly responsible was under review.
Ms Catley has since said those details were removed because Ms Nowland’s had to be notified before the information was made public.
On Wednesday, Deputy Opposition Leader Natalie Ward failed in a bid to obtain papers in relation to what was communicated to Ms Catley and the Premier’s office.
This included all versions of police media statements, and communication like departmental briefings.
Ms Ward also questioned why Ms Catley refrained from making a public statement until six days after the incident.
“There are so many questions that need answers in this situation because this minister has refused to be upfront about her involvement about her actions,” she.
She said the lack of information pointed to a “lack of confidence” in how Ms Catley was “exercising her responsibilities, obligations and duties as a minister”.
Responding to the Ms Ward, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty accused her of “playing politics”.
“There’s no cover up here. The minister is an outstanding minister who has done a terrific job and has answered questions repeatedly about this, and the police commissioner has repeatedly answered questions about this incident,” she told the upper house.
“It’s paramount that this incident is investigated thoroughly and fairly so that we can have the best outcome for both the family and for the broader community.”
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman accused the government of “hypocrisy” after it regularly used section 52s – the same instrument that Ms Ward tried to use – to expose scandals that he said brought the then Liberal government “to a standstill”.
“Now when we make what we think is a modest request for documents, they’ve pulled down the shutters,” he said.
“Is there something they’re trying to hide? We don’t know, but if there is nothing to hide, then come clean and produce the documents.”
Mr Speakman said the government would continue fighting for information, stating it was in the “public interest”.
“Clearly there was a lack of accountability and a lack of transparency in the days following this tragic incident, but the public are entitled to know what involvement the Premier and the Police Minister had in that,” he said.
Since Ms Nowland’s fatal tasering, the Police Minister has faced a barrage of question and criticisms, including calls for her to stand down – which both Ms Catley and the Premier rejected.
On Friday, Chris Minns denounced the opposition for alleging that there was a cover up in communication between the government, the police and the public.
“I think for the NSW opposition to claim a police cover up on the basis of a media release is not fair or consistent with the facts,” he said.
“And it’s important for the people of NSW to know – and in fact, I believe – the NSW Police took this incident very seriously and it did result in very serious charges for the officer involved.”
Senior Constable Kristian White has since been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault over the incident.
The 33-year-old will face Cooma Local Court on July 5. He remains suspended on full pay.