Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

That is a concern and it is perhaps an issue that ought to be considered. Let us go to the circumstances at Eastern Creek. At the start of the thoroughbred breeding season there is an influx of horses. Those horses are usually accompanied by contractors who are engaged sessionally for the period those horses are at Eastern Creek. They do not necessarily have an ongoing connection with or any special training in protocols, or perhaps even an understanding of why special protocols are needed. For this inquiry to completely understand what has occurred, I would suggest that those individuals should be able to give evidence. I regard those people as perhaps more the victims than the cause of the problem because of their circumstances, whether it be in relation to training or whatever else, or just existing within a culture at the facility. If they have no expectation that their evidence may lead to some prosecution for a breach of a rule that they may or may not be aware of, that is going to be an impediment to the inquiry. Is any consideration being given to equipping the royal commissioner with the power to pursue those sorts of indemnities in return for evidence?