Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide) 7 December 2004

Abuse Inquiry Resignation

This version of the transcript has been edited by Dr Robert N Moles

In order of appearance

Leigh McCluskey, Presenter
Jay Weatherill, Minister for Family and Community Services [Parliament]
Ki Meekins – Former Abuse Victim

Program

Leigh McCluskey

First tonight to the latest on our bombshell revelation that the chief investigator to the inquiry into abuse of Wards of the State, Bill Morris, was a friend and held power of attorney for the notorious paedophile - Peter Liddy, throughout the time he was charged and then convicted of child sex offences. And just to clarify, while the Attorney-General has had a significant involvement in the setting up of this inquiry, Mr Morris was not appointed by the Attorney-General but rather by the Minister of the Department being investigated - Jay Weatherill. But today more importantly, in the wake of our revelations,Mr Morris announced that he would stand aside from the position - even though the public may well be asking how a man with his connections to Peter Liddy was ever appointed in the first place.

What has been crucial from the outset is the public's confidence in the Government's inquiry and the victims' confidence that this inquiry will be handled fairly and independently. Ki Meekins is one of those victims but first here's a quick look at what happened in parliament today.

Jay Weatherill

[Parliament] Consistently, sir, with what I understand to be the integrity of the man, he has decided that it would be untenable for his position to continue in assisting the inquiry. And I must say so sir – sir, uppermost in his considerations, uppermost in his considerations were public confidence in the inquiry. He volunteered his professional relationship as a lawyer with Mr Liddy to me. He volunteered that to me and I did not believe now, and nor did I at the time believe that this would interfere in any way with his functions in relation to the inquiry. Well -- well -- well -- well, now - [background jeers] It is very sad I must say that we've lost a very able South Australian in being able to assist in the inquiry but I'm sure that we will be able to find a first class replacement and without it interrupting the deliberations of this important inquiry.

Leigh McCluskey

Ki - welcome to the program. Well news today that Bill Morris has stood aside from the inquiry but what was your reaction to his appointment in the first place?

Ki Meekins

To me, it gutted me - and I felt totally betrayed by the South Australian Government.

Leigh McCluskey

Ki could you believe that anybody that had such a close connection to a man like Peter Liddy and was his confidante could have been appointed in the first place? I mean it just strikes most of us as staggering.

Ki Meekins

It's not - it's not only staggering Leigh, it seems to me as though it - they just have no idea of how sensitive this issue really is because to me as an ex-State Ward there is no way known possible that I'm going to give any evidence to any power of attorney who was actually acting for the most notorious paedophile in South Australia - magistrate Peter Liddy.

Leigh McCluskey

I'm sure a lot of people would understand that - and as a victim as you say, it is incredibly sensitive - so how important is the impartiality and the independence to you of anyone who's going to be connected with this inquiry?

Ki Meekins

The impartiality and the independence is paramount in this because the thing is that once this inquiry goes through - through its actual functions, in the end of this if charges are brought against any – any perpetrators, if there is - how shall I say - conflicts of interest, it means that the actual perpetrators will be able to bring this up in - at a later date and that will work against us.

Leigh McCluskey

Ki, sadly you're not the only victim who will be giving evidence to this inquiry. In the last 24 hours have you spoken to any other victims about Bill Morris and his appointment and what was the reaction of some of the other people involved?

Ki Meekins

They were completely gutted, completely destroyed - and were even willing not to give any evidence to any inquiry because of the simple conflict of interest.

Leigh McCluskey

So Ki, what have you done with the information that you plan to give to the inquiry or that you've already given to the inquiry? Is it right that you're actually talking about taking it all back again?

Ki Meekins

Well what happened last night Leigh is after I seen Today Tonight last evening, it was the first time I was enlightened to the fact that Bill Morris was associated with Mr Peter Liddy. And in that sense, first thing this morning at 9am I went into the Commission of Inquiry and demanded my documents back and a signed document saying that none of those documents have actually been copied or you know - how shall I say - photocopied by the Commission. And in that sense I have taken those back in my possession and I was not prepared to give any more evidence until the Government had appointed someone who was not in any conflict of interest.

Leigh McCluskey

Ki, a lot of people are saying gee, this inquiry hasn't even started and this is a really unfortunate, at best, an unfortunate way for it to kick off. Do you still have confidence that it can be run effectively?

Ki Meekins

I believe that - that we've worked very hard for many years to get this up and running and such a formality as this, it's not going to stop me and it's not going to stop a lot of other people that have worked very hard to get this up and running. And all I can say is that the fact that the turn of events today that have happened, it means that I'm feeling a lot better about the whole situation now.

Leigh McCluskey

Well Ki, on that positive note, and let's hope that the inquiry is handled more sensitively from here on in and that it has an effective end. We really appreciate your time, you take care.

Ki Meekins

I thank you very much for your time, Leigh, thank you.

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