Astonishing moment Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of ACT, addresses whether Walter Sofronoff should be charged for early release of report
- Walter Sofronoff previously admitted to leaking a report to two journalists
- ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr accused him of breaching ‘good faith’
- Mr Barr declined to rule out the possibility of indictment against the retired judge
The ACT Prime Minister has berated retired Judge Walter Sofronoff for “breaching his good faith towards me” by releasing early his Commission of Inquiry report on the Bruce Lehrmann trial.
The former Queensland judge has admitted that he released his report under embargo to two journalists – one at the Australian newspaper and another at the ABC – before the report was released by the territory’s government.
The ACT’s chief minister has berated retired judge Walter Sofronoff (pictured) for ‘breaching his good faith towards me’ by releasing early his commission of inquiry report on the Bruce Lehrmann trial
The media has declined to comment on their sources.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said at a media conference on Monday that he was “very clear” to Mr Sofronoff that his report would not be redacted or suppressed in any way.
“He violated his good faith towards me by releasing that report before delivering it to whom he was legally intended,” Mr Barr said.
When asked if he would like to see Mr Sofronoff charged, Mr Barr said: ‘We are considering our options, as I have outlined’.
Mr Barr said he had not received an apology from the retired judge.
“He has tried to give an explanation,” he added.
Mr Sofronoff’s 600-page report was formally released by the government on Monday – days after its contents were widely described in the press.
More to come.