ID :
9870
Thu, 06/12/2008 - 18:09
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Police seek truth about Iguanas incident
Canberra, June 12 (AAP) - Police are investigating who is lying about a row at a NSW Central Coast nightclub involving federal MP Belinda Neal and her husband, NSW education minister John Della
Bosca.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers had all the statutory declarations relating to the now infamous incident at Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront Bar.
Nightclub staff have sworn statements alleging Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca threatened and abused them during an argument last Friday night.
The couple deny any wrongdoing and have released statutory declarations from four of their dining companions that contradict the claims of staff.
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell, who referred the matter to Mr Scipione, said "both cannot be right".
The maximum penalty for making a false declaration is five years in jail.
Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens said the matter was in the hands of Brisbane Water police.
"A complaint was made this morning asking us to investigate it and that's exactly what we are going to do," Mr Owens told reporters.
"I think there's been enough public running commentary on this. I think it's time we find out the facts of the matter."
Neither Mr Della Bosca nor his office were commenting about the police investigation on Thursday.
He did, however, reject media coverage about his personal life, including claims Ms Neal keeps the names and photos of her enemies in the freezer.
"Today there's been some cruel and inappropriate reporting ... and untrue reporting of my personal life in the Sydney media. I simply want to comment that I'm not adding further to this muckraking," Mr Della Bosca told reporters at Coolangatta, in
Queensland.
"I have said I'm not going to add anything to this stressing muckraking that has been going on today."
Mr Della Bosca also denied his performance as a minister was suffering because of the focus on the nightclub incident, insisting he had his "eyes on the education ball".
He also found support in his frontbench colleague, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald, who said he saw no reason why Mr Della Bosca should resign.
"From what I've read of the incident last Friday night I can't see any reasons for John Della Bosca to stand aside," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who on Wednesday ordered Ms Neal to undergo anger management counselling, denied she was being treated differently because of her gender.
Julia Irwin, the Labor MP for the Sydney seat of Fowler, had asked if Ms Neal's gender was an issue in her treatment.
"Why is it that women are singled out by reporting of these instances. Why not the men?" she said.
But Mr Rudd said gender was not an issue.
"I've seen those comments from the member for Fowler and I believe they are wrong," he told reporters in Tokyo.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard also defended the federal government's treatment of Ms Neal, who was also recently sent off in a soccer match for a rough tackle on an opponent.
"There was a pattern emerging there and I thought the matter needed to be discussed with the prime minister and needed to be addressed, and it has been," she said.
Bosca.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers had all the statutory declarations relating to the now infamous incident at Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront Bar.
Nightclub staff have sworn statements alleging Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca threatened and abused them during an argument last Friday night.
The couple deny any wrongdoing and have released statutory declarations from four of their dining companions that contradict the claims of staff.
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell, who referred the matter to Mr Scipione, said "both cannot be right".
The maximum penalty for making a false declaration is five years in jail.
Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens said the matter was in the hands of Brisbane Water police.
"A complaint was made this morning asking us to investigate it and that's exactly what we are going to do," Mr Owens told reporters.
"I think there's been enough public running commentary on this. I think it's time we find out the facts of the matter."
Neither Mr Della Bosca nor his office were commenting about the police investigation on Thursday.
He did, however, reject media coverage about his personal life, including claims Ms Neal keeps the names and photos of her enemies in the freezer.
"Today there's been some cruel and inappropriate reporting ... and untrue reporting of my personal life in the Sydney media. I simply want to comment that I'm not adding further to this muckraking," Mr Della Bosca told reporters at Coolangatta, in
Queensland.
"I have said I'm not going to add anything to this stressing muckraking that has been going on today."
Mr Della Bosca also denied his performance as a minister was suffering because of the focus on the nightclub incident, insisting he had his "eyes on the education ball".
He also found support in his frontbench colleague, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald, who said he saw no reason why Mr Della Bosca should resign.
"From what I've read of the incident last Friday night I can't see any reasons for John Della Bosca to stand aside," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who on Wednesday ordered Ms Neal to undergo anger management counselling, denied she was being treated differently because of her gender.
Julia Irwin, the Labor MP for the Sydney seat of Fowler, had asked if Ms Neal's gender was an issue in her treatment.
"Why is it that women are singled out by reporting of these instances. Why not the men?" she said.
But Mr Rudd said gender was not an issue.
"I've seen those comments from the member for Fowler and I believe they are wrong," he told reporters in Tokyo.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard also defended the federal government's treatment of Ms Neal, who was also recently sent off in a soccer match for a rough tackle on an opponent.
"There was a pattern emerging there and I thought the matter needed to be discussed with the prime minister and needed to be addressed, and it has been," she said.
