Police Whistleblower's Legal Representation under Review

By Dan Cox
ABC News
May 30, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-30/police-whistleblower27s-legal-representation-under-review/4722834

A police whistleblower says news the New South Wales Government is reviewing his barrister's funding undermines the inquiry he sparked into child sexual abuse within the Hunter Valley's Catholic Church.

The Special Commission is underway in Newcastle looking into Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox's claims that he was told to stop investigating allegations of abuse by two priests.

The second part of the inquiry is set to start late next month.

Peter Fox says his barrister Mark Cohen has received an email from the Attorney General's department requesting a meeting next week about his funding.

"We're probably only receiving funding that is minute compared to other Government departments that are represented, such as the NSW Police," he said.

"To throw an additional headache at us, halfway through this inquiry when we're about to launch into what I consider the more important aspect - that is the church's involvement in these matters - rings really big alarm bells for me as to what is going on within the ranks of the Government and the Attorney General's department."

Peter Fox says the Premier Barry O'Farrell must continue funding his legal representation when the second part of the inquiry gets underway.

"Simply just turn around and say that the funding that was being extended to my legal representation be extended to the end of inquiry," he said.

"I think most decent people would expect that.

"To be saying at this late stage, 'oh look, now it's under review again and we may not be extending your funding and you may even have to represent yourself at the next portion of the inquiry', undermines the entire inquiry itself."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General says "the funding provided for legal representation before the Special Inquiry, and other inquiries, is public money which is awarded according to strict guidelines".

She says "the Department of Attorney General and Justice have funded Mr Fox’s legal representation before the inquiry so far" and "funding for the second phase of the inquiry, commencing in July, is yet to be allocated".