CCC Responsible for Legislative Council Mess

Contempt Charge: Misguided or Phoney?

The Legislative Council has found itself between a rock and a hard place in its handling of the so called “contempt” charge against Julian Grill.

The big mistake of the Legislative Council Committee was to allow a Corruption and Crime Commission lawyer Philip Uruquart into the proceedings. As a result of Uruquart’s influence, it was the CCC agenda that was run exclusively in the second part of the Inquiry.

Laurie Marquet the former Clerk of the Legislative Council was very wise and knowledgeable in matters parliamentary and constitutional. While it is clear Marquet made some big errors near the end of his life with drug addiction and theft to sustain the abusive habit, he was prior to that, a formidable opponent and intellect - in his prime.

Laurie Marquet would never have allowed a Crime and Corruption Commission lawyers to become involved in the operation of a Legislative Council committee. He certainly would have opposed ceding any rights or powers to any statutory body outside parliament to operate within parliament.

Marquet realised the importance of not allowing Legislative Council committees to be manipulated by outside lawyers. Lawyers should be welcome to advise their client, sometimes state their case, but never be allowed to run the show. Therein is the genesis of the current stand-off.

There was a sea change when Crime and Corruption Commission lawyer Philip Uruquart came in to run proceedings in the second part of the inquiry. The Desert Rat believes the CCC has a lot to answer for this debacle in the Legislative Council.

The appalling treatment of Julian Grill and the denial of natural justice and procedural fairness to him is bizarre by any standard. The Legislative Council committee’s finding is without substance in fact and was in any event outside their powers.

The Desert Rat puts this outcome down to the result of CCC lawyer Philip Uruquart’s influence. The CCC has a lot to answer for its involvement in this debacle. The Desert Rat believes anyone with integrity and pride would certainly prefer to go to gaol rather than capitulate to misguided or phoney contempt charges.

Laurie Marquet was an arch enemy of Jim McGinty and continually thwarted his attempts to use the Legislative Council to achieve his political ends in matters of electoral tinkering and Legislative Council voting procedures. Laurie Marquet was another enemy of McGinty who was pursued by the CCC, unfortunately to his death bed.

In his prime he was more than a match for Jim McGinty and outpointed him at every turn. The Desert Rat understands that Jim McGinty despised Marquet.

The unravelling of the resulting mess will be there for all to see. CEO Mike "Children Overboard" Silverstone and the rest of McGinty's CCC secret police will keep their heads down.