CANBERRA

The Honourable Mark Dreyfus QC MP
House of Representatives

Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Mylar/ms 0.x 

I refer to our telephone conversation this afternoon.

The Government has decided to give the Opposition the opportunity to inSpect the
con?dential volumes of the reports of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance
and Corruption. That inspection will, if you agree, be undertaken by you personally, in your
capacity as the Shadow Attorney?General, on the terms set out in this letter. These are the
same terms as the opportunity to inSpect the con?dential volumes is being offered to
designated spokeSpeople of other political parties, as well as crossbench and independent
Senators who have made a request for access.

The con?dential volumes contain information on threats and acts of violence against
witnesses of the Royal Commission, as well as details of ongoing police investigations and
current and pending criminal prosecutions.

The con?dential volume ofthe interim report is subject to a non?publication direction by the
Commissioner under section 6D of the Royal Commission Act 1902. However, the order
allows the Government to provide access to the report to appropriate individuals under
certain conditions. The Government proposes to apply similar conditions to the con?dential
volume of the ?nal report.

Inspection of the con?dential volumes will be on the following conditions:

1. Inspection of the volumes is to be in the presence of an of?cer of the Department of

Prime Minster and Cabinet;

2. No other individuals will be permitted to view the volumes;

3. No notes may be taken or any material copied, including by the taking of
photographs;

4. The details or nature of the material in the volumes may not be disclosed to third
parties; and

5. None of the material is to be removed from the room or the presence of the of?cials
of the Department of Prime Minster and Cabinet.

In addition, the Government will impose one further restriction on your inspection of the
volumes, that the names of individuals or of entities that may identify individuals, will be
redacted from the copy of the reports made available for inspection. This is to protect not
only those individuals, but also to protect you.

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7300 Facsimile: (02) 6273 4102

Upon receipt of your agreement in writing to these conditions I will instruct the Department
of Prime Minster and Cabinet to make the necessary arrangements for access at
Parliament House.

Yours faithful]

(Georg andis)