On 27 June the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) authorised an Order to be issued to Mr John Magerison requiring him to answer questions put to him on 26 April 2023, and summonsing him to appear before the Committee in a public hearing this Friday 28 July 2023.
Unfortunately the part of this Friday’s public hearing into procurement at Services Australia and the NDIA which was to hear from Mr John Margerison can no longer proceed.
Mr Margerison’s lawyer has informed the Committee that Mr Margerison is now resident overseas, having severed all ties with the country of Australia many weeks ago! Mr Margerison’s lawyer has not disclosed Mr Margerison’s whereabouts.
Further, as Mr Margerison claims via his lawyer to now be located and resident overseas, he now considers himself outside the jurisdiction of the Parliament.
Committee Chair Mr Julian Hill said that the JCPAA will consider the letter from Mr Margerison’s lawyer at its next private meeting.
Mr Hill said, “That Mr Margerison’s lawyer now claims he has left and severed all ties with Australia is a somewhat surprising turn of events indeed. Mr Margerison’s whereabouts remains a matter of great mystery.
“Notwithstanding Mr Margerison’s refusal to fully address the questions put to him in April and appear this Friday, the JCPAA will continue to conduct this inquiry in a proper fashion. The Committee will make findings based on the evidence before it. It remains within the JCPAA’s power to recommend referrals to other investigative bodies with additional resources and powers.”
The remainder of the hearing – which relates to the JCPAA’s inquiry into annual performance statements – is unaffected and will proceed.
Further information is available on the inquiry website.
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