UPDATE … “Good morning” … Noel Hutley apologies to radio bully … Bar cover-up on leaks concerning private discussions about members … DPP’s woeful performance in the Lynette Daley case … Brandis aims High 

Why on earth would anyone apologise to Alan Jones, the commercial broadcaster whose career has been built on racist abuse, lies about global warming and who was found in the cash-for-comment inquiry to have peddled the views of those who were secretly stuffing cash into his trousers? 

And who can forget his vile attack on Julia Gillard, saying her father died of shame? 

Yet the president of the NSW bar association Noel Hutley apologised to this awful individual in the first moments of an interview about NSW’s serious crime prevention orders. 

This is how the interview commenced on May 9: 

This is standard Jones procedure – to humiliate the guest and show he has the upper hand.

Why anyone in their right mind would agree to go on his show is confounding. But, if by some misfortune you find yourself on the other end of a microphone and he starts this bullying nonsense, then the best policy is to promptly hang-up, or reply:  

“Good morning, you horrible little turd.”  

Concerned citizens continue to inquire about what measures the NSW bar council has taken to stem the flow of leaks. 

Damaging information touching on bar council deliberations concerning Geoffrey Watson SC were leaked to The Australian as part of the paper’s anti-ICAC agenda and to damage the former ICAC counsel assisting. 

It is an offence under the legal profession legislation for councillors or committee members who exercise disciplinary functions to disclose details of their investigation or findings. 

The information published in the press violated the confidentiality provisions of the Act. 

Has the bar executive put the thumb screws on relevant people to find out who leaked this stuff? Have there been any sudden resignations from council or disciplinary committees? 

It looks as though there’s a cover-up as the whole thing is being swept under the carpet. 

Nonetheless, it must be uncomfortable for councillors knowing there is a leaker in the ranks. 

The NSW DPP has also battened down the hatches, this time over the devastating Four Corners report on the death of 33-year-old north coast Aboriginal woman Lynette Daley. 

Her death followed gruesome invasive sexual acts on Ten Mile Beach. It is questionable that Ms Daley consented because she was drunk and not fully conscious. 

An autopsy found she died from blunt-force genital tract trauma, following prolonged, vigorous punching motions.

The perpetrators then tried to conceal the crime by burning a mattress and some of the victim’s clothes. 

The police and the coroner did thorough investigations and charges against two men were recommended. 

In fact, the police did charge Adrian Attwater with manslaughter. He was 37 years old, unemployed, an alcoholic living with his parents with a history of assault and drug-related offences. 

Another bogan at the scene was Paul Maris, 41, unemployed, living in a nearby caravan park, with a record of assault. 

However, the DPP did not want to take the case to trial, telling Lynette’s parents, “There is not enough evidence to establish that Mr Attwater committed the unlawful and dangerous act which led to Lynette’s death”. 

In the face of the material that Four Corners produced and when you read Coroner Michael Barnes’ report, the DPP’s decision is incomprehensible. 

True to form, DPP Lloyd Babb would not appear to explain more comprehensively the basis of this decision. 

It is only after the media started making inquiries about Daley’s death that attorney general Gabrielle Upton asked in February for Babb to review the matter. The review is still grinding on.  

The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK is far more open about how it does about its decision making processes, including a website packed with information. 

By comparison, the ODPP in NSW is run along Stalinist lines. When Justinian asked whether there would be a statement about the Four Corners’ program, we got silence – and this is despite the fact that the DPP’s guidelines include this piece of waffle:  

“The functions of the ODPP bring it into contact with the media (which expression includes public reporters and commentators of all kinds). This cannot and should not be avoided as the public have a right to (and should) know what is happening publicly in the criminal justice process.”  

In fact, there have been no media releases from the ODPP, that are available online, since 2013. 

They will advise the DPP, who will then revisit his original decision and “advise the public of the outcome”. 

From reliable sources in Canberra comes disturbing news about attorney general George (Bigot) Brandis. 

George needs the Coalition to win this election because he wants to persuade Turnbull to put him on the High Court, with the aim of being the next CJ when Robert French retires in March. 

Yes, George’s ambitions and self-regard know no limits. Turnbull, however, thinks his attorney general is a goose and would be pleased to see the back of him, which means Brandis’ application for the top judicial job is likely to fall on receptive ears. 

However, to appoint the lazy and devious Bookshelves to the High Court would be a step too far, surely? 

The leader of opposition business in the senate, Penny Wong, has expressed the view that Brandis is a disaster as government leader in the upper house, as his word cannot be trusted. 

By comparison, dealing with Otto Abetz was a dream. 

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