Sir Alfred Might Give More Details Of Moyle... (Press, 18 April 1978)

The ongoing discussion regarding the release of the full transcript from the Moyle inquiry, led by Sir Alfred North, is a focus of attention as Attorney-General Mr Wilkinson is set to have further talks with Sir Alfred. This comes after Prime Minister Mr Muldoon was questioned by journalists at a news conference on 17 April 1978, where he stated that the decision lies with the Solicitor-General Mr R. C. Savage, Q.C. At a subsequent press conference, Mr Muldoon reiterated that the matter of transcript release is not his purview, but rather Sir Alfred's. Sir Alfred's report, which is 43 pages long, notes that a competent Hansard reporter attended the hearings and provided a 92-page transcript of the testimony. Additionally, written evidence was submitted by the Commissioner of Police Mr K. B. Burnside and Deputy Commissioner Mr R. J. Walton that outlined events related to the former Labour Minister, Mr C. J. Moyle. However, crucial pieces of evidence, including Mr Muldoon's responses and the questions posed to him, were not included in the published report, raising concerns among the press about whether Sir Alfred sufficiently probed Mr Muldoon and others regarding the source of information related to Mr Moyle. Mr Muldoon had informed Sir Alfred during the inquiry that he learned about a specific incident involving Mr Moyle from a long-time friend in the press gallery, who had acquired details from a police contact. Despite the significance of identifying this informant, Sir Alfred's report does not confirm whether he sought the name of the journalist. When pressed for the name at a news conference, Mr Muldoon declined, citing obvious reasons for his refusal. The inquiry has not only left questions about the release of the full testimony but also about Mr Muldoon's statements in Parliament concerning accusations against Mr Moyle regarding alleged homosexual activities. After Mr Moyle denied the allegations and deemed them “absolutely untrue,” Mr Muldoon claimed he was prepared to present evidence supporting his statement, which he asserted was in police custody. When questioned about his evidence's documentation, Mr Muldoon maintained that the valid evidence existed, yet he did not provide further clarification on obtaining it for public release. Finally, despite suggestions for transparency, Mr Muldoon indicated that decisions regarding the publication of Sir Alfred's report were his own and not discussed with his Cabinet. He suggested that Sir Alfred advised publication to dispel any doubts regarding his mental fitness during the inquiry. The political milieu surrounding the inquiry remains fraught with tension as journalists and politicians continue to grapple with the implications of the findings. Mr Muldoon eventually curtailed questions on the matter, signalling a desire to move past the controversy surrounding the Moyle affair.

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