Commissioner defends CMC

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the bungled release of sensitive Fitzgerald Inquiry documents has been likened to using an "anvil to crack a nut'.

CMC commissioner Judith Bell defended the commission during an extra public hearing of the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee inquiry yesterday.

She told the inquiry she believed it had been "heavy handed" with CMC staff.

"Having watched a great deal of the hearings I felt it was an anvil to crack a nut," she told the inquiry.

"I felt disturbed by the fact that we had been remiss but I also felt disturbed by what I felt was very heavy handed treatment of some of our staff."

Mrs Bell, who was one of four commissioners to front the inquiry yesterday, said she did not believe the wrongful release had come about due to any criminal or malicious behavior but she told the inquiry the bungle had exposed shortcomings within the CMC that needed to be addressed.

When questioned by PCMC chair Liz Cunningham on her criticism of the inquiry, Mrs Bell said she believed the matter would have been better handled by an internal review reporting to the CMC commissioners.

She said the PCMC should have been kept in the loop.

The PCMC is due to finish its report into the bungle by April 5.

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