PM: Heffernan will be held to account

Prime Minister John Howard says Senator Bill Heffernan will be held accountable if his comments alleging High Court Judge Justice Michael Kirby used Commonwealth cars to pick up young male prostitutes are proved wrong.

The New South Wales police force is yet to receive documents sent by Senator Heffernan which he claims support his attack on Justice Kirby in parliament.

Heffernan, a close ally of the prime minister, attacked Justice Kirby in the Senate on Tuesday, accusing him of using Commonwealth cars to pick up rent boys in Sydney.

The attack has sparked intense public debate on the use of parliamentary privilege to reveal allegations about the judiciary.

In a statement released yesterday, NSW police said it had received only a faxed copy of a letter tabled in parliament by Senator Heffernan, but no further documentary evidence supporting his claims.

A police spokesman said today: "Our understanding is, when and if, we receive any other mail today regarding the Heffernan allegations we will be putting out a similar media statement."

Justice Kirby, who is openly gay, has rejected Senator Heffernan's accusations as absurd.

Prime Minister John Howard said today Justice Kirby had a right to be angry if his reputation had been besmirched by allegations that turned out to be untrue.

Mr Howard refused to support or condemn his close political ally Senator Heffernan for claim ing Justice Kirby was unfit to hear alleged paedophilia cases and that he had used government cars to pick up male prostitutes.

"Everybody in this country, High Court judges included, are entitled to the presumption of innocence, everybody's reputation is important to them and everybody has a right to be angry if their reputation is inaccurately or unfairly besmirched," Mr Howard told John Laws on radio 2UE.

"He (Senator Heffernan) made a speech the other night very much off his own bat and that issue is now being, as it were, played out.

"If what has been alleged is demonstrated to have been completely untrue, then you are accountable for that."

Mr Howard defended any politician's right to use parliamentary privi lege "as a last resort".

But the controversy prompted Opposition leader Simon Crean today to call on prime minister Mr Howard to sack Senator Heffernan.

"The real issue here is not to do with Justice Kirby, it's to do with Heffernan's abuse, (it's to do with) John Howard allowing him to perpetrate that abuse," Mr Crean told Channel Nine.

Mr Crean said Senator Heffernan had defied the prime minister's advice not to abuse parliamentary privilege.

"That's the real basis upon which John Howard should sack him," Mr Crean said.

Senator Heffernan has sent records of Commonwealth car dockets and a statutory declaration to NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan.

He stood aside from his role as Cabinet secretary after making the allegations.


	Government News Index site index HOME PM: Heffernan will be held to account By Simon Johanson March 15 2002 Prime Minister John Howard says Senator Bill Heffernan will be held accountable if his comments alleging High Court Judge Justice Michael Kirby used Commonwealth cars to pick up young male prostitutes are proved wrong. The New South Wales police force is yet to receive documents sent by Senator Heffernan which he claims support his attack on Justice Kirby in parliament. Heffernan, a close ally of the prime minister, attacked Justice Kirby in the Senate on Tuesday, accusing him of using Commonwealth cars to pick up rent boys in Sydney. The attack has sparked intense public debate on the use of parliamentary privilege to reveal allegations about the judiciary. In a statement released yesterday, NSW police said it had received only a faxed copy of a letter tabled in parliament by Senator Heffernan, but no further documentary evidence supporting his claims. A police spokesman said today: "Our understanding is, when and if, we receive any other mail today regarding the Heffernan allegations we will be putting out a similar media statement." Justice Kirby, who is openly gay, has rejected Senator Heffernan's accusations as absurd. Prime Minister John Howard said today Justice Kirby had a right to be angry if his reputation had been besmirched by allegations that turned out to be untrue. Mr Howard refused to support or condemn his close political ally Senator Heffernan for claim ing Justice Kirby was unfit to hear alleged paedophilia cases and that he had used government cars to pick up male prostitutes. "Everybody in this country, High Court judges included, are entitled to the presumption of innocence, everybody's reputation is important to them and everybody has a right to be angry if their reputation is inaccurately or unfairly besmirched," Mr Howard told John Laws on radio 2UE. "He (Senator Heffernan) made a speech the other night very much off his own bat and that issue is now being, as it were, played out. "If what has been alleged is demonstrated to have been completely untrue, then you are accountable for that." Mr Howard defended any politician's right to use parliamentary privi lege "as a last resort". But the controversy prompted Opposition leader Simon Crean today to call on prime minister Mr Howard to sack Senator Heffernan. "The real issue here is not to do with Justice Kirby, it's to do with Heffernan's abuse, (it's to do with) John Howard allowing him to perpetrate that abuse," Mr Crean told Channel Nine. "The prime minister must sack him." Mr Crean said Senator Heffernan had defied the prime minister's advice not to abuse parliamentary privilege. "That's the real basis upon which John Howard should sack him," Mr Crean said. Senator Heffernan has sent records of Commonwealth car dockets and a statutory declaration to NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan. He stood aside from his role as Cabinet secretary after making the allegations. With AAP The Age Index