How much Taxpayer Money Committed to Out-of-Court settlements?

	Extract from Hansard Legislative Council 16 November 1999

Ian Gilfillan Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council		Parliament Index 1999 Spring Session Index Browse by Subject About the SA Parliament Hansard on line

The Hon. IAN GILFILLAN: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney- General a question relating to the settlement of legal action against Sergeant Nick Pippos.

The Hon. IAN GILFILLAN: Earlier this month two separate actions were begun in the Adelaide Magistrates Court against Sergeant Nick Pippos of the South Australia Police Vice and Gaming Task Force. One was a civil suit and the other was a private criminal prosecution, which is something quite rare. The action arose out of an incident which occurred when the Vice and Gaming Task Force was raiding a Kent Town massage parlour on 17 June this year. Both actions were brought by lawyer Tony Tropeano, who alleged that he was assaulted by Sergeant Pippos. Video footage of the incident captured on security cameras at the massage parlour was shown on Channel 7. Both sides briefed queen's counsel to represent them, and I understand the case lasted several days before an out of court settlement was reached last Friday.

1. How much taxpayers' money was or is likely to be involved in this settlement?

2. How much of the settlement was to pay for the legal costs of each party, and how much was for damages?

3. Assuming that taxpayers' money has been spent on this settlement, is there any justification for keeping it confidential?

4. Does the government pay for the defence and/or settlement costs of every employee who is defending criminal or civil charges?

5. On what basis does the government decide whether or not to pay for the legal defence and/or settlement of claims against its employees?

6. Are those decisions made under guidelines that are different from those which the Legal Services Commission uses to allocate funding for members of the public defending criminal or civil actions?

I realise the Attorney will not be able to answer the next two questions and may need to seek information about them. They are:

7. How much money does the government spend each year defending employees who are facing charges of assault or other criminal offences?

8. How much money does the government spend each year defending or settling cases where employees face civil suits for assault or other civil wrongs?

The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN (Attorney-General): I do not know what money, if any, was paid in relation to the settlement that was reported in the Advertiser . I will make some inquiries. I will endeavour to bring back replies to all those questions.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable member should bear in mind that there is not a supplementary question unless it is based on an answer, and I do not believe there has been an answer.

The Hon. IAN GILFILLAN: Mr Attorney, the questions related to other than Mr Tropeano's case. I was asking for answers in general terms.

The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: I am not really sure what that means. I have said I will get some answers. There is a policy generally of providing either representation or indemnity for employees in certain cases. It is not at large. But if the honourable member wants the detail of that, I will get it.