THE Canberra Liberals are calling out Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury for going “missing in action” amidst the leaking of the Sofronoff Report.

Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee says if the findings of the conduct of the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout this trial are as accurate as is being reported in the media, the Attorney-General should sack him immediately.

“Andrew Barr must release the entirety of the Sofronoff Report immediately,” she says.

“An independent inquiry is exactly that, an independent inquiry.

“Given the extensive media coverage that this report and inquiry have both had over the past 24 hours, it is essential that the report be released in full, immediately, to ensure that there are no undue aspersions – unfounded or otherwise – on any parties that are involved.

Lee says it is critical for the people of the ACT to have confidence in the criminal justice system, and faith that the Chief Minister and the Attorney-General are committed to the robustness and the independence of this inquiry.

“There is no doubt that if what is being reported in the media outlets about the conduct of the Director of Public Prosecutions is true, it casts grave concerns about the integrity of his role,” she says.

“If any other lawyer engaged in the type of conduct the Director of Public Prosecutions is found by Sofronoff to have engaged in, their employment would be immediately terminated and they would almost certainly be struck off the roll.

“In fact, as the holder of a statutory office, there is an even higher standard for the Director of Public Prosecutions, not only as an officer of the court, but also in their prosecutorial duties to the people of the ACT.

“It is extraordinary that Shane Rattenbury has gone missing in action.

“Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury must demonstrate leadership and ministerial responsibility for these findings.”