QuestionsRaisedAbout

KempInvestigationLawyer
ByAlexiPoldenonApril16,2015
AlexiPoldenreportsastheinvestigationintostudentsiscalledinto
question.
Severalstudentsyesterdayreceivedformalallegationsofmisconductfromthe
universityinrelationtothecontroversialprotestagainstproIsraeladvocateColonel
RichardKempinMarch.Auniversitypressreleasealsostatesthatonestaffmember
andtwocontractorshavebeensentallegations,reportedlyAssociateProfessorJake
Lynchandtwouniversitysecurityguards.Theallegations,signedbyProfessor
TyroneCarlin,theDeputyViceChancellor(Registrar)telltherecipientsthataformal
investigationbytheOfficeoftheGeneralCounselisnowinprogress,anddirects
themtoattendformalinterviews.Theletterreferencesuniversitybylaw62(4)which
givesCarlintheauthoritytocompelstudentsandstafftoattendaninterview,though
doesnotgivehimthepowertocompelthemtoanswerquestions.Fivemembersof
thepublichavealsobeensentallegations,thoughtheonlyactiontheuniversitycan
takeistoprohibitthemfromenteringcampus.
Howeverconcernshavealreadyarisenovertheconductoftheearlystagesofthe
investigation.HoniSoithasseenanemailsentinMarchtoindividualspresentatthe
protestbyJaneWright,principalofthefirmWorkdynamicAustralia.Intheemails,
Wrighttellstherecipientsthatherfirmhadbeenengagedtoconductan
investigationintoincidentsandinvitesthemtoattendavoluntaryinterview.
SeveralpeoplewhoattendedthoseinterviewsallegethatWrightidentifiedherselfas
arepresentativeofWorkdynamicthroughout.
BothWorkdynamicandWrighthavealongstandingrelationshipwiththeuniversity.
AuniversityspokespersontoldHonithatWorkdynamicisonretainertothe
Universitytoprovidelegaladviceinmatterssuchastheonecurrentlyunderreview,
anarrangementthespokespersondescribedasstandardpractice.Wrightislistedas
astaffmemberontheOfficeofGeneralCounselwebsiteandhasauniversityemail
addressandphonenumberwhicharelistedintheuniversitysstaffdirectory.The
spokespersontoldHonithiswastofacilitatecommunicationwithWright,after
Workdynamicwasretainedtoprovideadditionalsupport.

HonifurtherunderstandsthatWrightwastaskedwithinvestigatingtheprotestagainst
ForeignMinisterJulieBishoplastyear,andthatsheidentifiedherselfasalawyer
fromtheOfficeofGeneralCounselwhileconductingatleastoneinterviewregarding
thatincident.HonihasalsoseenemailssentbyWrightatthetime,whichidentifyher
asauniversitysolicitor.Itremainsunclearwhysimilarprocedureswerenotfollowed
inthisinstance.
Soitwouldappearthattheexternalinvestigationseveralpeoplethoughttheywere
engagedinwas,infact,conductedbyafirmwithclosetiestotheUniversity.Thisis
aconcernforsome,whofeeltheuniversitysapproachtotheprotest,andits
aftermath,hasbeenonesidedfromthestart,particularlyinlightanemailsenttoall
studentsbytheViceChancellorMichaelSpenceinMarchtitledConcernsabout
antiSemitismoncampuswhichmadedirectreferencetotheprotest.
Onestudentinvolved,FahadAli,toldHonithathadheknownthatWorkdynamic
wasonretainertotheuniversityandthatWrighthadworkedfortheOfficeof
GeneralCounselhewouldhaveapproachedhisinterviewdifferently.Honi
understandsthatseveralotherpeoplewhohavebeeninterviewedshareAlisview.
AlitoldHonithathadheandothersbeenawareofWorkdynamicscloseand
longstandinglinkstotheuniversity,theywouldhavepushedharderforatruly
externalinquiry.Thefactthatitwasnotonlytheprotestorswhoreceivedshowcause
noticesyesterdayhasdonelittletorestorestudentsfaithinUniversityprocedures,
particularlyinlightoftodaysrevelations.
Wrightdidnotrespondtorepeatedrequestsforcommentthroughherfirmand
theuniversity.