Nothing so typifies Keating's arrogance and contempt for due legal process than his attitude that - if you don't like the decision of the Royal Commissioner, brand him a lackey of the political enemy and the Commission a witch hunt. ALP idealogues readily accept this as a justification for giving perjured evidence, as in the Easton petition affair.
"Or in the case of the Hindmarsh Bridge Royal Commission, let Tickner, a publicly exposed political incompetent, spend more millions setting up another inquiry to produce the results desired via a "Star Chamber Court".
"The Carmen Lawrence affair STINKS of corruption. Not because the Royal Commission may or may not have been politically motivated, but simply because Keating knew last May (1995) that Lawrence's position would not be supported by perjured evidence of her former Cabinet colleagues.
"Keating also concealed that knowledge from his Cabinet or he and his entire Cabinet conspired to misuse taxpayer funds in a desperate and despicable attempt to conceal the truth that Lawrence was not a person who could be trusted to tell the truth.
"Neither Keating nor members of his Cabinet and, in particular, Ministers Lawrence and Tickner are fit and proper persons to occupy high public office."