19 June 1995

SETTLEMENT WITH WIFE OF FORMER ASIS OFFICER

On 1 June 1995, Senator Gareth Evans, in his tabling statement which detailed the Government's response to the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry into ASIS, indicated that the Government would set up a process of arbitration to make binding determinations on compensation and other issues arising from the cases of a number of former ASIS officers and the wife of one of those former officers. This process has been agreed to by the parties.

In relation to the wife of one of the former officers, the Director-General of ASIS was to also make a formal apology to her and Senator Evans stated that he joined with him in that apology.

On 19 June, following a mediation process conducted by Sir Laurence Street, the Government reached a settlement with the wife of one of the former ASIS officers. This involved the provision to her of a written apology and an ex gratia payment. Sir Laurence Street endorsed the settlement agreement as a soundly based appraisal, taking into account the many considerations necessary to be weighed in arriving at a settlement.

The Government is moving to resolve the remaining cases of three former ASIS officers dealt with by the Commission of Inquiry.