24 December 2015

Burch under pressure as ACT Policing investigate media reports

| Canfan
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ACT Policing are investigating Fairfax Media reports that ACT Police Minister Joy Burch’s most senior adviser briefed Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union ACT Secretary Dean Hall on the contents of a meeting between Ms Burch and Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers.

UPDATE: Burch resigns as Police and Emergency Services Minister.

An ACT Policing spokesman told RiotACT that “as a result of this morning’s media reporting, ACT Policing is evaluating the veracity of the allegations.
“As this matter is now under evaluation it is not appropriate that I comment further.”
Ms Burch’s chief of staff, Maria Hawthorne, resigned last night.
ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson has called for the resignation of Ms Burch over the alleged incident.
Mr Hanson has called on Ms Burch to resign or be dumped from cabinet and for Andrew Barr to cut ACT Labor’s financial and political ties to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
“Following revelations that Joy Burch provided details of a conversation with the Chief Police Officer over the conduct of police at building sites to the CFMEU, these calls need to be acted on,” Mr Hanson said.
“The conduct of Joy Burch is not appropriate for a police minister. This incident … is just the latest in a long list of issues with Ms Burch.
“It’s highly inappropriate to have the Minister or her staff conveying information to the CFMEU, particularly during an investigation.”

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