MEDIA RELEASE

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING INTO THE NATIONAL CRIME AUTHORITY'S USE OF WITNESS PROTECTION

Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority, Mr Peter Nugent MP, announced today details of a public hearing into the National Crime Authority's witness protection arrangements.

 Mr Nugent said:

The NCA has informed the Committee that: "the objective of witness protection programs is to provide protection and assistance to high risk witnesses in relation to serious criminal offences and to provide an environment in which the witness may give evidence without fear of retribution. Effective witness protection is vital to the operation of law enforcement agencies, including the NCA."

Earlier this year the Committee's attention was drawn to some concerns about the operations of witness protection programs in Australia and it concluded that an inquiry into the NCA's witness protection arrangements was timely.

The public hearing will be an opportunity for the Committee to examine in detail the operations of witness protection programs and to determine whether there are aspects in need of reform. Witnesses to give evidence at tomorrow's public hearing will include a senior representative of the National Crime Authority itself, officers from the Australian Federal Police (which administers the National Witness Protection Program), and the Commonwealth Ombudsman, whose office investigates complaints in relation to the administration of the program by the Australian Federal Police.

Details of the public hearing follow.

22 June 2000

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For further information contact:

Mr Peter Nugent MP, Committee Chair,(02) 6277 2088

Mr Michael McLean. Committee Secretary,(02) 6277 3565

 

JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL CRIME AUTHORITY

PUBLIC HEARING INTO WITNESS PROTECTION

FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 2000

in Committee Room 1S4
Parliament House, Canberra.

AGENDA