AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By MICHELLE HARRIS June 11, 2013

COMMISSIONER Margaret Cunneen SC has decided not to refer a tweet from detective chief inspector Peter Fox for possible contempt of the Special Commission of inquiry into child sex abuse cover-ups in the Hunter Valley.

Ms Cunneen said on Tuesday morning she had the power to refer such matters to the registrar of the Supreme Court, to consider pursuing possible contempt proceedings.

It followed a tweet Mr Fox made in relation to the evidence of a police officer given during a previous hearing of the inquiry in May.

Legal representatives of some police officers who are involved in the inquiry said the tweet was inconsistent with earlier evidence given to the inquiry.

However, in a brief directions hearing in Sydney Tuesday morning, Ms Cunneen said she was not persuaded such a referral for contempt action was warranted over the tweet.