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Upto WEATHER ODD SPOT INDEX ISSN 0312-6307 9 770312 630059 B C D MELBOURNE A little rain 12 — 17 BALLARATRain cleari ng10 — 13 BENDIGO Rain cleari ng8 — 16 GEELONG Rain cleari ng11 — 17 HORSHAM Morning rain 9 — 15 MILDURARain developing10 — 20 SALE Early fog6 — 18 WARRNAMBOOLA littlerain12—15 WODONGAA little late rain 6 — 17 Details PAGE17 Ocean acidification caused by fossil fuel emissions may be turning fish deaf. Clownfish reared in seawater acidified by carbon dioxide have impaired hearing, a UK study found. This could have devastating consequences for the colourful star of animated movie Finding Nemo, say scientists. ARTS PAGE 15 CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESSDAY14 COMMENT & DEBATE PAGE 13 EDITORIALS , LETTERS PAGE 12 MINDGAMES PAGE 16 OBITUARIES PAGE 16 SHARES BUSINESSDAY10-12 SHIPPING BUSINESSDAY5 TRIBUTES PAGE 10 WORLD PAGES 8, 9 MELBOURNE DAMS 48.3 % A YEAR AGO: 35.3% MELBOURNE DAMS 54.6 % A YEAR AGO:32.7% FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011 PUBL ISHED IN MELBOURNE SINCE 1854 $1.70 INC GST Details PAGE 17 WEATHER Cloudy with a little rain developing. 12-17 TOMORROW Early showers 11-15 SUNDAY Rain developing9-16 MONDAY Shower or two 7-13 TUESDAY Shower or two 6-12 The story of Brett Wood’s bravery under fire NEWS ONE CLEAR DAY But don’t panic say analysts SHARES TUMBLE BUSINESSDAY Bu g g e d : S ir K en Jones targetedbytheOPI SIR KEN JONES Resigned as Victoria Police deputycommissioner last month amid claims of tensions with chief Simon Overland, including over the reporting of crime statistics. SIMON OVERLAND Ordered Sir Ken from his office on May 6 — on the same day he asked the Office of Police Integrity to investigate him. Is believed to have suspected his deputy of l eaking confidential information about the death of Carl Williams. OPI DEPUTYDIRECTOR PAUL JEVTOVIC Launched electronic surveillance of Sir Ken, and at least one state government employee, after the complaint from Mr Overland. OMBUDSMAN GEORGE BROUWER Has launched an investigation into the OPI over concerns its pursuit of Sir Ken might be an abuse of powers. By RICHARD BAKER and NICK McKENZIE AGE INVESTIGATIVE UNITContinued PA GE2 Cov ert ope rat ion spa rks inq ui ry by Ombud sman EXCLUSIVE VICTORIA’S Office of Polic e Integrity has undertaken elec- tronic surveillance of departingdeputy police commissioner Sir Ken Jones in an operation that is also monitoring the communic- ations of at least one staff mem- ber of a ministerial office. Senior police and govern- ment sources have confirmed that the OPI has activate d its extraor dinary powers after a complai nt lodged by police chie f commissi oner Simon Overland against Sir Ken. It has for weeks been intercepting the communications of Sir Ken, his wife and other close associates. The Agehas learnt the opera- tion also involves attempts to monitor the communications ofone or more people working in sensitive Victorian government positions who have been identi- fied as supporters of the former British policeman. In response to the possibilitythat Sir Ken was an OPI target, it is understood that his house was swept for bugs. The Agehas also learnt that the Office of Police Integrity is now itself under investigation over concerns that its pursuit ofSir Ken at the request of Mr Overland may be an abuse ofthepowersgivento itto uncov er serious police corruption. Ombudsman George Brouwer is believed to have launched a probe into the use of powers bythe OPI and other issues. The developments have left the state and its government facing extraordinary turmoil at the highest levels of its lawenforcement structures, includ- ing a beleaguered Chief Com- missioner of Police and now a key watchdog under suspicio n and investigation by another. The OPI inquiry into Sir Ken comes months before the police watchdog will be replaced by a new anti-corruption body. The OPI is believed to be examining interaction between Sir Ken and one or more public servants or ministeri al aides relating to his dispute with Mr Overland and the manner in which he left the Victoria Police. Mr Overland has never explained why he ordered Sir Ken to leave his office immedi- ately on Friday May 6 — four days afte r the We lsh-born policeman announced his resig- nation and intention to finish in August — or why he asked the OPI to probe his deputy. As reported in The Agelast month, Mr Overland visited OPI deputy director Paul Jevtovic just hours before he ordered Sir Ken out on May 6. A senior police source said Mr Jevtovic has been in charge of the operation targeting Sir Ken while OPI director Michael Strong was away on holiday in recent wee ks. He r e c en t lyreturned to work. It is known that Mr Overland suspected Sir Ken of leakinginformation about the compet- ency , independence and Ref orm set toreopen Walsh St ByJOHN SILVEST ER iP ad edition Download The Age iPad at the iTunes App Store to see: IAn extended version of this story, video and interactive graphic. Continued PAGE 2 Editorial PAGE12 THE investig ati on into the Walsh Street murders of Con- s t ab l es Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre is set to be reopened when the state gov- ernment introduces ground- breaking legislation overturningthe 800-year-old-laws of double jeopardy. ‘‘Certainly Walsh Street is one of the cases that could res- ult in a retrial if a court is satis- fied there is sufficient new and compel ling evidence. It is a good example of the sort of case that could fall within the newrules,’ ’ Attorney-General Robert Clark told The Age. He said he expecte d that legislation giving the Court ofAppeal the power to grant retri- als despite previou s acquitta ls will be ready to be put to Parlia- ment later this year. Mr Clark said the age of the failed Walsh Street prosecution would not create an obstacle to a potent ialretrial as therewouldbe no time constraints written into the new law. ‘‘It will be designed so that it will apply to past cases.’’ Four men, Victor George Peirce, Peter David McEvoy, Tre- vor Pettingil l andAnthony Farrell we re acquitted of the Octo- ber 12, 1988 ambush murder ofthe two policemen. Taskforce investigator s and relatives of the victims have been lobbying for an inquest into the case. Last year homicide squad detectives began to update the case to prepare for a possible coronial hearing. Mr Clark said the govern- ment was committed to its pre- electi on promise to abolish double jeopardy. The policeman who jointlyheaded the taskforce investiga- tion into Walsh Street, former D e te c t ive Inspector John Noonan, said if a new trial was held hewas confidentof gainingconvictions: ‘‘It is never too late for justice and justice has never been delivered in this case.’’ The Att orney- General ’ s department has begun discus- sions with senior police and the Office of Public Prosecutions to develop the new law. Under the likely model the Chief Commission er will briefthe Director of Public Prosecu- tions on cases where there is new and compelling evidence not available at the time of the first trial, suggestions a jury has been nobbled, or proof a wit- ness has committed perjury. If the DPP agrees, prosecu- tors will make a submission to the Court of Appeal asking for the acquittal to be set aside and a new trial to be held. Assi stant Commissioner (Crime) Graham Ashton said: ‘‘Ifand when thelegislation is intro- duced, we will of course look at what new options this might prese nt because we remai n firmly committed to achievi ngjustice for the families of Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre.’’ Mr Clark stressed the general rule of double jeopardy would remain and the new law would only relate to a limited class ofcases, including murder and designated serious offences. Investigators say there are seve ral pote ntia lly fert ile grounds to justify a review ofWalsh Street including: I Sta r pros ecut ion wit ness LandmarkRiodealtodeliverbillionstoAborigines By MICHAEL GORDON NATIONAL EDITOR INDIAN OCEANWESTERN AUSTRALIA 300KM 0 L N Pilbara Onslow Exmouth Karratha Port Hedland Newman Nanutarra Continued PA GE2 TRADITIONAL Aborigi nal owners stand to receive more than $2 billion over 40 years under a watershed agreement with Rio Tinto that sets a newstandard for negotiat ions between miners and indigenous Australia. The deal also has the poten- tial to tackle profound disad- vantage in the Pilbara region ofWestern Australia. Seven years in the making, the agreement will allow about 40 new iron ore mines to pro- ceed in an area of 70,000 square kilometres, with the companysigning up to bold targets to employ and engage as suppliers local indigenous communities, to protect significant sites and to back native title claims. In terms of scale, breadth, duration and the inclusion offixed obligations on both sides, the agreement is unpreceden- ted, w it h Rio Tinto chi ef executive Sam Walsh declaring: ‘‘It’ s good for the Aboriginal community. It’s good for our business. It also happens to be the right thing to do. ‘‘This is of a huge scale, and it’s a huge opportunity for both the company and the Aboriginal groups. What we’re doing here will help set a new standard across Australia. ’ Indigenous groups described the agreement as the most com- prehens ive ever undertak en, delivering an income stream, education and job opportunit- ies, access to supply contracts and a thorough set of miningexclusion zones to protect signi- ficant sites. In return, indig- enouscommuni tieswillcommit to boostin g school attendance andbacking partne rship s aimed at equipping people to fill jobs at Rio and in support busi- nesses. Whil e the financial agree- ment with five native title groups is confidential, it is believed to include a fixed rev- enue share of iron ore sales that are predicted to increase from about 220 million tonnes a year to more tha n 400 million tonnes. Indigenous groups will devote a portion of the revenue to a ‘‘future fund’’ designed to ensure that coming generations share in the deal’ s benefits. ‘‘ One of the things that makes this historic is that past agreements were based only on ‘best endeavours’ [to improve out come s for indigenous people],’’ said Simon Hawkins, chief executive of the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, which covers four of the five claim groups. ‘‘This agreement is out come s-f ocus ed, wit h require ments on traditi onal owners and Rio Tinto to meet commitments.’’ The deal comes more than 15 years after then Rio Tinto chief Leon Davis advocated an end to an era of generally heavy- handed and exploit ative treat- ment of traditional owners bymining companies. It follows a study five years ago that found that 40 years ofHappy 80th birthday, Sir Gus NEWS&FOCUS SPECIAL REPORT
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8/2/2019 Best News Report in Print - Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie
*Up to $4,000 worth of factory fitted options at no additional cost. Oer available on new Audi A3, A4, A5 and TTmodels including S and RS models. Oer is available on existing stock only for vehicles purchased and delivered between 1 June and June 30 orwhile stocks last (whichever comes first). This is a manufacturer’s Ad and vehicles must be purchased from authorized Audi dealers. Audi Australia reserves the right to extend this oer. Overseas model shown. AUDI5103/Q2/MA/7x 11/0306
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WEATHER ODD SPOT INDEX ISSN 0312-6307
9 770312 630059B C D
MELBOURNE A little rain 12 — 17BALLARAT Rain clearing 10 — 13
MILDURA Rain developing 10 — 20SALE Early fog 6 — 18
WARRNAMBOOLA littlerain12—15 WODONGA A little late rain 6 — 17
Details PAGE17
Ocean acidification caused by fossil fuel emissions may beturning fish deaf. Clownfish reared in seawater acidified bycarbon dioxide have impaired hearing, a UK study found.
This could have devastating consequences for the colourfulstar of animated movie Finding Nemo, say scientists.
SHIPPING BUSINESSDAY 5 TRIBUTES PAGE 10 WORLD PAGES 8, 9
MELBOURNE DAMS
48.3%A YEAR AGO: 35.3%
MELBOURNE DAMS
54.6%A YEAR AGO:32.7%
FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011PUBLISHED INMELBOURNE SINCE 1854 $1.70INCGST
Details PAGE 17
WEATHERCloudy with alittle raindeveloping.12-17TOMORROW Early showers 11-15
SUNDAY Rain developing 9-16
MONDAY Shower or two 7-13
TUESDAY Shower or two 6-12
The story of Brett Wood’sbravery under fire
NEWS
ONE CLEAR DAY
But don’t panic say analysts
SHARESTUMBLE
BUSINESSDAY
Bugged:SirKenJonestargetedbytheOPI
SIR KEN JONESResigned as Victoria Police deputy commissioner last month amid claimsof tensions with chief Simon Overland,including over the reporting of crimestatistics.
SIMON OVERLANDOrdered Sir Ken from his office on May 6 — onthe same day he asked the Office of PoliceIntegrity to investigate him. Is believed to havesuspected his deputy of leaking confidentialinformation about the death of Carl Williams.
OPI DEPUTY DIRECTORPAUL JEVTOVICLaunched electronicsurveillance of Sir Ken,and at least one stategovernment employee,after the complaintfrom Mr Overland.
OMBUDSMANGEORGEBROUWERHas launched aninvestigation into theOPI over concerns itspursuit of Sir Ken mightbe an abuse of powers.
By RICHARD BAKERand NICK McKENZIEAGE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
Continued PAGE2
Covert operation sparks
inquiry byOmbudsmanEXCLUSIVE
VICTORIA’S Office of PoliceIntegrity has undertaken elec-tronic surveillance of departing deputy police commissioner SirKen Jones in an operation that isalso monitoring the communic-ations of at least one staff mem-ber of a ministerial office.
Senior police and govern-ment sources have confirmedthat the OPI has activated itsextraordinary powers after acomplaint lodged by policechief commissioner SimonOverland against Sir Ken. It hasfor weeks been intercepting thecommunications of Sir Ken, his
wife and other close associates.The Age has learnt the opera-
tion also involves attempts tomonitor the communications of one or more people working in
sensitive Victorian governmentpositions who have been identi-fied as supporters of the formerBritish policeman.
In response to the possibility that Sir Ken was an OPI target, itis understood that his house
was swept for bugs.The Age has also learnt that
the Office of Police Integrity isnow itself under investigationover concerns that its pursuit of Sir Ken at the request of MrOverland may be an abuse of thepowersgivento itto uncoverserious police corruption.
Ombudsman George Brouweris believed to have launched aprobe into the use of powers by the OPI and other issues.
The developments have leftthe state and its governmentfacing extraordinary turmoil atthe highest levels of its law enforcement structures, includ-ing a beleaguered Chief Com-
missioner of Police and now akey watchdog under suspicionand investigation by another.
The OPI inquiry into Sir Kencomes months before the police
watchdog will be replaced by anew anti-corruption body.
The OPI is believed to beexamining interaction betweenSir Ken and one or more publicservants or ministerial aidesrelating to his dispute with MrOverland and the manner in
which he left the Victoria Police.
Mr Overland has neverexplained why he ordered SirKen to leave his office immedi-ately on Friday May 6 — fourdays after the Welsh-bornpoliceman announced his resig-nation and intention to finish in
August — or why he asked theOPI to probe his deputy.
As reported in The Age lastmonth, Mr Overland visited OPIdeputy director Paul Jevtovic
just hours before he ordered SirKen out on May 6.
A senior police source saidMr Jevtovic has been in chargeof the operation targeting SirKen while OPI director MichaelStrong was away on holiday inrecent weeks. He recently returned to work.
It is known that Mr Overlandsuspected Sir Ken of leaking information about the compet-e nc y, i n de pe n de nc e a n d
ReformsettoreopenWalshStBy JOHN SILVESTER
iPad editionDownload The Age iPad at the
iTunes App Store to see:
I An extended version of this story,
video and interactive graphic.
Continued PAGE 2Editorial PAGE12
T HE investigation into the
Walsh Street murders of Con-stables Steven T ynan andD am ia n E y r e i s s et t o b ereopened when the state gov-ernment introduces ground-breaking legislation overturning the 800-year-old-laws of double
jeopardy.‘‘Certainly Walsh Street is
one of the cases that could res-ult in a retrial if a court is satis-fied there is sufficient new andcompelling evidence. It is agood example of the sort of casethat could fall within the new rules,’’ Attorney-General RobertClark told The Age .
He said he expected thatlegislation giving the Court of
Appeal the power to grant retri-als despite previous acquittals
will be ready to be put to Parlia-ment later this year.
Mr Clark said the age of thefailed Walsh Street prosecution
would not create an obstacle to apotentialretrial as therewouldbeno time constraints written intothe new law. ‘‘It will be designedso that it will apply to past cases.’’
Four men, Victor GeorgePeirce, Peter David McEvoy, Tre-vor Pettingill andAnthony Farrell
were acquitted of the Octo-ber 12, 1988 ambush murder of the two policemen. Taskforceinvestigators and relatives of thevictims have been lobbying foran inquest into the case.
Last year homicide squaddetectives began to update thecase to prepare for a possiblecoronial hearing.
Mr Clark said the govern-ment was committed to its pre-election promise to abolishdouble jeopardy.
The policeman who jointly headed the taskforce investiga-tion into Walsh Street, formerDetective Inspector JohnNoonan, said if a new trial washeld hewas confidentof gaining convictions: ‘‘It is never too latefor justice and justice has neverbeen delivered in this case.’’
T he Attorney -General’sdepartment has begun discus-sions with senior police and theOffice of Public Prosecutions todevelop the new law.
Under the likely model theChief Commissioner will brief the Director of Public Prosecu-tions on cases where there isnew and compelling evidencenot available at the time of thefirst trial, suggestions a jury hasbeen nobbled, or proof a wit-ness has committed perjury.
If the DPP agrees, prosecu-
tors will make a submission tothe Court of Appeal asking forthe acquittal to be set aside anda new trial to be held.
Assistant Commissioner(Crime) Graham Ashton said: ‘‘If and when thelegislation is intro-duced, we will of course look at
what new options this mightpresent because we remainfirmly committed to achieving
justice for the families of StevenTynan and Damian Eyre.’’
Mr Clark stressed the generalrule of double jeopardy wouldremain and the new law wouldonly relate to a limited class of cases, including murder anddesignated serious offences.
Investigators say there areseveral potential ly fertilegrounds to justify a review of
Walsh Street including:I Star prosecution witness
LandmarkRiodealtodeliverbillionstoAboriginesBy MICHAEL GORDONNATIONAL EDITOR
INDIAN OCEAN
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
300KM0LN
PilbaraOnslowExmouth
Karratha
Port Hedland
Newman
Nanutarra
Continued PAGE2
T RADIT IONAL Aboriginalowners stand to receive morethan $2 billion over 40 yearsunder a watershed agreement
with Rio Tinto that sets a new standard for negotiationsbetween miners and indigenous
Australia.The deal also has the poten-
tial to tackle profound disad-vantage in the Pilbara region of
Western Australia.
Seven years in the making,the agreement will allow about40 new iron ore mines to pro-ceed in an area of 70,000 squarekilometres, with the company signing up to bold targets toemploy and engage as supplierslocal indigenous communities,to protect significant sites andto back native title claims.
In terms of scale, breadth,duration and the inclusion of fixed obligations on both sides,the agreement is unpreceden-t ed , w it h R io T in t o c h ie f
executive Sam Walsh declaring:‘‘It’s good for the Aboriginalcommunity. It’s good for our
business. It also happens to bethe right thing to do.
‘‘This is of a huge scale, andit’s a huge opportunity for boththe company and the Aboriginalgroups. What we’re doing here
will help set a new standardacross Australia.’’
Indigenous groups describedthe agreement as the most com-prehensive ever undertaken,delivering an income stream,education and job opportunit-ies, access to supply contractsand a thorough set of mining
exclusion zones to protect signi-ficant sites. In return, indig-enouscommunitieswillcommitto boosting school attendanceandbacking partnerships aimedat equipping people to fill jobsat Rio and in support busi-nesses.
While the financial agree-ment with five native titlegroups is confidential, it isbelieved to include a fixed rev-enue share of iron ore sales thatare predicted to increase fromabout 220 million tonnes a year
t o m or e t h an 4 0 0 m il li o ntonnes. Indigenous groups willdevote a portion of the revenueto a ‘‘future fund’’ designed toensure that coming generationsshare in the deal’s benefits.
‘ ‘One of the things thatmakes this historic is that pastagreements were based only on‘best endeavours’ [to improveoutcomes for indigenouspeople],’’ said Simon Hawkins,chief executive of the YamatjiMarlpa Aboriginal Corporation,
which covers four of the five
claim groups. ‘‘This agreementis outcomes-focused, withrequirements on traditionalowners and Rio Tinto to meetcommitments.’’
The deal comes more than15 years after then Rio Tintochief Leon Davis advocated anend to an era of generally heavy-handed and exploitative treat-ment of traditional owners by mining companies.
It follows a study five yearsago that found that 40 years of
Happy 80thbirthday,Sir Gus
NEWS & FOCUS
SPECIALR EPORT
8/2/2019 Best News Report in Print - Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie
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CORRECTION POLICY It is the policy of The Age tocorrect all significant errors as soon as possible.The Age is committed to presenting informationfairly and accurately.
Exclusive on The Age iPad app today
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WALSHSTREET
JohnSilvester
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Streetstory with
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graphic
October 11, 1988Graeme Jensen shot dead by police in a botched arrest bid inNarrre Warren.
October 12ConstablesSteven Tynanand DamianEyre ambushedand murderedin Walsh Street,
South Yarra.November 17Walsh Streetsuspect JeddHoughton shotdead by policein Bendigo.
December 30 Victor Peirce formally charged with two counts of murder overWalsh Street. Peirce’s half-brother Trevor Pettingill, Anthony Farrell and Peter McEvoy arealso charged.
April 9, 1989Walsh Street suspect Gary Abdallah, shot by police.He dies 40 days later.
March 26, 1991Supreme Court jury acquitsthe four accused men.
May 1, 2002 Victor Peirce shotdead in Bay Street,Port Melbourne.
October 1, 2005The Age reportsPeirce’s wife Wendy admits her husband
organised the policemurders as revengefor the death of his friend, GraemeJensen.
February 5, 2010McEvoy arrested inNewcastle and tells
police, ‘‘The sweetest thing I ever heard was the policeofficer’s last words while he was dying.’’
November 27Coalition wins government ona raft of election promises thatincluded changing the laws of double jeopardy, leaving openthe possibility of a retrial.
WALSH STREET MURDERS
Steven Tynan
Damian Eyre
Reform to reopenWalsh StFrom PAGE 1
Wendy Peirce recanted her ori-ginal statements and refused to
implicate the four men. She waslater convicted of perjury.I One of the acquitted men,Peter McEvoy, made an appar-ent confession when arrested inNewcastle last year, declaring:‘‘The sweetest thing I ever heard
was the police officer’s last words while he was dying.’’I A police statement made by aprison officer that McEvoy brag-ged in jail about killing twopolice.I A confession by Wendy Peirce,published in The Age in 2005,that she lied to protect her hus-band.‘‘It [Walsh Street]was spur
of the moment, we were on therun. Victor was the organiser.’’I A recent police statementbelieved to be signed by Mrs
Peirce confirming her husband’srole in the double murder.
Victor Peirce was shot deadin Port Melbourne in 2002.
In the original trial , theaccused men made unswornstatements from the dock, alltelling the jury they were notguilty. Unsworn statementshave now been banned and anaccused either remains silent orgives sworn testimony, which isopen to cross-examination.
Laws modifying double jeop-ardy protection have beenintroduced in Britain, New Zeal-and, Queensland, New South
Wales and South Australia.Mr Clark said he would also
ask the Law Reform Commis-sion to examine wrongful con-
viction practices to ensureprisoners can also receive
justice. ‘‘In principle it should work both ways.’’
He said DNA reviews couldprovide ‘‘classic examples of new and compelling evidence’’.
The Law Institute of Victor-ia’s Michael Holcroft said theinstitute did not support waiv-ing double jeopardy laws whennew evidence emerged. ‘‘Thereshould be finality in prosecu-tions and only in rare casesshould there be a retrial. Itshould not occur because theinitial verdict is not popular.’’
accountability of the policeforce to the media or politicalfigures. But it is not known
whether Premier Ted Baillieu orPolice Minister Peter Ryan areaware of the extent of the OPIprobe into Sir Ken and the tar-geting of one or more people
working out of Treasury Place.Both Mr Baill ieu and Mr
Ryan have repeatedly said thatthey do not know the reason MrOverland told Sir Ken to go.
Sir Ken had briefed Mr Over-land on the contents of a sensit-i v e r ep or t i n to m ur de r scommitted by parolees justhours before he was ordered toleave. The report is believed tohave found up to four murderscould have been prevented hadpolice data bases kept bettertrack of parolees.
Several inquires into MrOverland’s command of thepolice and the wider adminis-tration of justice are under way.The government has engaged
Jack Rush, QC, to investigate thestructures of police command.Mr Brouwer is also investigating
whether Mr Overland was influ-enced by pressure from the for-mer Labor government torelease inaccurate and incom-plete crime statistics just beforelast November’s state election.
The Age has previously repor-tedthatMr Overlandwas warnedbysenior policefigures,including
media director Nicole McKe-chnie,notto complywiththefor-mer government’s request.
Mr Brouwer is also investig-ating the circumstances that ledto gangland figure and potentialpolice corruption witness Carl
Williamsbeingmovedfromisol-ation at Barwon Prison last year.Prisoner Matthew Johnson hasbeen charged with his murder.
Department of Justice secret-ary Penny Armytage was among those who authorised the move-ment of Williams from isolation.
LandmarkRio dealFrom PAGE 1
substantial economic develop-m en t i n t he P il ba ra h addelivered virtually no positivebenefits for the region’s indig-
enous population, with roughly the same number of Aboriginalpeople arrested in a year as werein mainstream employment.
Prepared for the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, the report cited highunemployment, poor educa-tional achievement and drug and alcohol abuse as contribut-ing to high arrest rates and ageneral lack of capacity.
The deal commits Rio Tintoto have Aboriginal workers fromthe Pilbara comprise 14 per centof its workforce, to support localindigenous business to a similar
level and to provide its entire workforce with cultural aware-ness training. If it fails to meetthe job target, Rio Tinto will berequired to spend $200,000 a
year for each of the groups on
education scholarships.‘‘This is about people in the
Pilbara being in charge of thistransforming process in theirlives,’’ said Janina Gawler, Rio’schief negotiator in the agree-ment. ‘‘The challenges ahead inthe implementation are aboutbuilding capacity and working
with the groups to deliver on thevision that the traditionalowners themselves have.
‘‘They want to see benefitsfor their children’s children andto ensure that their culture andheritage and law are maintainedand are strong.’’
Australia entering‘decades of boom’New middle class in China, India to boost economy
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0 MARCH 2007 MARCH 2011SOURCE:DEUTSCHE BANK;ABS
EXPORTS BOUNCE BACKCOAL
METAL ORES AND MINERALS
By PETER MARTINECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT
THE head of the Treasury hasrelegated the March quartereconomic downturn to the past,saying Australiais abouttoentera boom that should last decadespropelled by high export prices,enhanced mining capacity anda once-in-a-century globalrealignment.
T he Australian dollar isunlikely to go back to where it
was, and manufacturing willshrink in importance to theeconomy, perhaps even fasterthan it has been.
Speaking to senators as offi-cial statistics were releasedshowing a rebound in coal andiron ore exports and a lift inconsumer spending, MartinParkinson said Treasury hadalways expected the Marchquarter downturn reported on
Wednesday, although it hadbeen “marginally larger” than itpredicted.
There was nothing in Wed-nesday’s news to change itsview that the March and June quar-ters would be weak, followed by “a strong rebound with very positive growth prospects in2011-12 and 2012 -13”.
There had been many “extra-vagant claims” about the impactof a carbon price. Those claimsdid not stand up to scrutiny.
About $380 billion of mining investment was already under
way or committed over the nextfive years. In the coming year$83 billion would be invested inenhanced mining capacity, up
from $51 billion in the financial year about to end.
It was being driven by “anexpectation of continued very strong growth in demand forcommodities worldwide — weare talking about China, Indiaand a range of other countriesthat are rapidly improving theliving standards of their people”.
“Because those projects arefor mines that will exist for 20,30,40 even50 years,theywillnot
be knocked off course by short-term disruptions,” he said.
Treasury chief economistDavid Gruen told the Senateestimates hearing that while
Australia’s record-high com-modity prices might fall back incoming decades “our assump-tion is the next 10 years don’tlook like the past 10 years: wethink the Australian economy isin the midst of a long-livedchange”.
The exchange rate would notreturn to its long-run historicalaverage “any time soon”.
The figures showed iron ore
exports rebounding 3.8 per centin April on top of an 18 per centrecovery in March. Coal exportsimproved a further 1.4 per centafter rebounding 14 per cent inMarch.
The retail spending figurespurported toshow a1.1 per centbounce back in April, but a largechunk of that was due to anunlikely 21 per cent jump inspending on shoes in Victoria,suggesting the results of thesample survey should be treated
with caution. While mining was part of
Australia’s economic transform-ation, Dr Parkinson found the“whole discussion about theimportance of mining quitebizarre”.
“Mining is 8 per cent of grossdomestic product,” he told thehearing. “It’s a very important8 per cent, but there’s a very important 92 per cent of GDP
which is out there which forsome reason we have stoppedtalking about.”
All parts of Australia’s econ-omy would be transformed as itretooled itself to sell to an Asianmiddle class that would becomebigger than that of the UnitedStates, bringing an “accelerationin the long-term decline in theimportance of manufacturing”.
Although the Treasury sec-retary would not “draw a directlink between climate changeand the things we have seenover this summer,” it was inevit-able that the budget would facegreater pressure in the futurefrom climate-related eventssuch as bushfires or flooding.