Separation Of Powers Under Threat?
Prominent Adelaide lawyer Eugene McGee was involved in a hit-run accident last year in which cyclist Ian Humphrey was killed. McGee received a $3000 fine for his part in the crash, which has sparked public outrage. SA Premier Mike Rann has been strongly critical of McGee’s sentence and the way in which the Department of Public Prosecutions handled the case, and ordered a Royal Commission, which started today. Adelaide’s legal fraternity has in turn been critical of the Premier and Attorney-General for politicising legal cases. University of South Australia Law Professor Rick Sarre says the terms of reference for the Royal Commission are too narrow to do any real good, and state Democrat member Ian Gillfillan says the Premier and Attorney-General are sticking their noses in where they don’t belong.