Statement from the Attorney-General

On Friday Mr Jeremy Rapke QC tendered his resignation as Director of Public Prosecutions. I attach a copy of his letter of resignation and my subsequent reply.

Mr Rapke has given long and distinguished service as a public prosecutor and in particular has been a highly effective and committed DPP.

Since the receipt of the report by the Hon Frank Vincent AO QC, Mr Rapke has had the opportunity to review the report and I want to acknowledge the very professional way in which he has handled what is a difficult situation.

The Government expresses its appreciation to Mr Vincent for his report.

Mr Vincent found that it had become apparent during the course of his inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of three Associate Crown Prosecutors in July 2010, that Mr Rapke adopted a course that gave rise to a perception of the presence of a conflict of interest. He also found that Mr Rapke had engaged in no conscious wrong doing.

Mr Vincent also identified deficiencies in organisational arrangements. Accordingly the structure, operations and management processes of the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) will be revised with reference to current needs and in light of the experience gained in this State, and other Australian jurisdictions, over the seventeen years since they were put in place.

As a consequence of this inquiry, the Government will be making appropriate amendments to the Public Prosecutions Act 1994 to correct deficiencies in the existing arrangements, including the role relationships between the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Solicitor of Public Prosecutions and the Chief Crown Prosecutor, to ensure the effective conduct of their important responsibilities.

Given recent events, I want to acknowledge the service given over many years by the hardworking members and staff of the OPP. The Victorian community benefits greatly from their commitment to our justice system.

The Government does not propose to release Mr Vincent’s report. It contains sensitive information and other material that was provided to Mr Vincent in confidence.