New Police Commissioner Will Face Questions On Reform Role

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday May 17, 2002

Stephen Gibbs

The Police Integrity Commission will examine Ken Moroney's role in the police service's troubled reform before it approves his expected appointment as the service's next commissioner.

Just hours after the Police Minister, Michael Costa, confirmed a candidate had been chosen for the job, a parliamentary committee questioned the PIC's two most senior officers.

Mr Moroney, the acting commissioner, has been challenged by former Greater Hume regional commander Clive Small and the former head of Olympic security, Paul McKinnon.

Mr Costa did not name the winner but Mr Moroney is the firm favourite. The PIC must give the chosen candidate an integrity clearance before the appointment can be made.

Coincidentally, PIC commissioner Terry Griffin and assistant commissioner Tim Sage were appearing yesterday before a parliamentary committee on the Ombudsman and the PIC.

As word reached the hearing room that a commissioner had been chosen, Mr Griffin and Mr Sage were asked whether public backing for Mr Moroney from Mr Costa and the Premier, Bob Carr, could have hampered the selection process.

Mr Sage said his views, and those of the PIC, were irrelevant because such matters were the responsibility of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Mr Griffin also did not wish to discuss Mr Costa's and Mr Carr's support for Mr Moroney.

In response to a question from Liberal MP Malcolm Kerr, Mr Griffin said any matters arising from the PIC's Malta inquiry into police reform that touched on Mr Moroney or Mr Small, if he had been selected would be dealt with during the process of the integrity clearance.

Earlier, Mr Sage said Mr Moroney had ``really embraced the reform program".