Statement On The Royal Commission Into Informants

Published:
Tuesday 5 February 2019

The reporting timelines for the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants will be extended after a request from the Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission will now provide a progress report to Government by 1 July 2019. It will complete all hearings in March 2020, with a final report to be provided to the Governor of Victoria by 1 July 2020.

The request follows a broadening of the Royal Commission’s terms of reference in February this year, which significantly increased the volume of material required to be examined by the Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission has also requested additional funding as a result in the change of terms of reference. The Government has approved this request, with an additional $20.5 million to be provided to the Royal Commission.

The complexities of dealing with a large volume of sensitive material that requires timely and detailed analysis, as well as security of the evidence, has resulted in the need for additional funding.

The Royal Commission was formed to establish the facts and provide assurance this can’t occur again.

Given the seriousness of the matters involved, it’s important we consider all avenues to preserve the integrity of the criminal justice system and keep the community safe.

It would be inappropriate to comment further on the Royal Commission while it’s underway.