The NSW Court of Appeal’s recent ruling that NSW parliamentary inquiries have no valid power to compel witnesses to appear before them to give evidence is a victory for common sense, says the Public Service Association.
The court ruling means outdated 124-year-old laws recently relied upon in an attempt to compel some of the Premier’s staff to appear before a parliamentary committee have now been struck down.
The laws are unusual in that they can’t be used to compel members of parliament, and therefore Ministers, to appear but they can be used to compel their staff.
The case was brought before the court by Premier Chris Minns’ chief of staff, James Cullen, after he was asked to appear at a number of parliamentary inquiries.
The court’s ruling is a victory for common sense, says Public Service Association General Secretary, Stewart Little.
“This is a victory for common sense,” said Mr Little.
“Ministers and Departmental Secretaries are fair game and should be held to account.
“Staffers and junior public servants should not be used as pawns in political shenanigans.”