Media Release 18 June 2021
Witness K sentence a travesty of justice
“The sentencing of Witness K today represents a travesty of justice – he should never have been prosecuted,” said Kathryn Kelly, Co-convenor of the Alliance Against Political Prosecutions.
“It has been widely publicised that the Howard/Downer Government bugged the Timor-Leste offices in 2004 to gain advantage in relation to the Timor Sea oil and gas negotiations taking place at the time.
“It is now evident that the benefit was largely for the companies involved, ConocoPhillips and Woodside, especially in relation to the helium associated with the production of petroleum. This has serious implications for our relations with countries such as Timor-Leste and China, and points to the need for a strong Federal ICAC to investigate the circumstances of the bugging.
“So much for Australia being a good neighbour, negotiating in good faith and in accordance with the rule of law!”
“Both Witness K and Bernard Collaery are courageous men who have demonstrated the conscience of Australia. Members of Parliament and company executives should learn from them. Christian Porter’s ill-considered decision to prosecute them will go down in history as one of his most seriously-bad judgements,” she said.
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Contact: Kathryn Kelly 0417269984