Vic: I didn't think pub meal was relevant: former police chief

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Vic: I didn't think pub meal was relevant: former police chief

MELBOURNE, April 14, AAP - Former police chief commissioner Christine Nixon says she
failed to tell the bushfires royal commission she dined with friends at a pub on Black
Saturday because she didn't think it was relevant.

In a heated exchange at the Teague inquiry, Ms Nixon faced another grilling from counsel
assisting the commission, Rachel Doyle, SC, who suggested the omission was made because
of its potential to cause embarrassment.

"I didn't think it was relevant," she told the commission.

"I didn't see any reason to explain it."

Ms Nixon on Wednesday told the inquiry into the Black Saturday bushfires that she had
left the Integrated Emergency Coordination Centre (IECC) on February 7, 2009, at 6pm leaving
the best people in place to deal with the emerging disaster.

She said her appearance at the hearings was to examine her role as then police commissioner.

Last week, the hearings learnt that Ms Nixon left the centre to return home, have a
meal and monitor media and updates on the bushfires.

On Wednesday, she admitted there had been a gap between 7pm and 8.20pm when she could
not access email, internet or radio but stressed she had a mobile phone that was switched
on after she had left the IECC.

"There were people with more experience in emergency management that were best placed
to manage the bushfires," Ms Nixon said.

"It was not my job to swoop in and take control..."

The hearings before Justice Bernard Teague are continuing.

AAP ees/jxt/cdh

KEYWORD: TEAGUE NIXON

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.