Case ‘closed’: A-G rejects criticism of DPP after advice from top silk

The AgeIndependentCenter7 hr. ago

On August 5, 2026, New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley dismissed criticisms against Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling, stating the matter was 'closed' after receiving legal advice from three barristers, including Noel Hutley, SC. The advice, provided to the Crown Solicitor’s Office, concluded that a parliamentary inquiry’s findings against Dowling were flawed, lacking sufficient evidence to support claims she authorized her office to provide negative information about Judge Penelope Wass to media outlet 2GB in 2024. The inquiry, which resulted in a 4-3 majority ruling against Dowling, alleged she both authorized the pitch and falsely denied it during parliamentary testimony. Daley called the inquiry a 'stitch-up,' while former DPP Nicholas Cowdery criticized the report as 'outrageous.' The legal team emphasized that the committee’s conclusions lacked factual basis and required a foundational understanding of what occurred during a critical meeting. Dowling had previously admitted her office shared the information but claimed she only learned of it over a year later.

Bias read (Center): While the subject involves high-level legal and political figures, the article presents balanced reporting by quoting multiple perspectives, Daley’s rejection of the inquiry, the dissenting MPs, and the legal advisors’ findings. There is no overt ideological slant in the framing, sourcing, or word-ch

The Sydney Morning HeraldIndependentCenter7 hr. ago

On August 5, 2026, New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley dismissed criticisms against Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling, stating the matter was 'closed' after receiving legal advice from three barristers, including Noel Hutley, SC. The advice, provided to the Crown Solicitor’s Office, concluded that a parliamentary inquiry’s findings against Dowling were flawed, lacking sufficient evidence to support claims she authorized her office to provide negative information about Judge Penelope Wass to media outlet 2GB in 2024. The inquiry, which resulted in a 4-3 majority ruling against Dowling, alleged she both authorized the pitch and falsely denied it during parliamentary testimony. Daley called the inquiry a 'stitch-up,' while former DPP Nicholas Cowdery criticized the report as 'outrageous.' The legal team emphasized that the committee’s conclusions lacked factual basis and required a foundational understanding of what occurred during a critical meeting. Dowling had previously admitted her office shared the information but claimed she only learned of it over a year later.

Bias read (Center): While the subject involves high-level legal and political figures, the article presents balanced reporting by quoting multiple perspectives, Daley’s rejection of the inquiry, the dissenting MPs, and the legal advisors’ findings. There is no overt ideological slant in the framing, and the focus is on厘