Photo: NT News Oct 30, 2002

NT ABC radio internal transcript

"...Peter Toyne has called on the Network Against Prohibition to GROW UP and start using the democratic process available to all citizens."

"NAP's Gary Meyerhoff says it obtained subpoenas to have senior police and politicians appear in court cases involving its members."

Justice Wilcox described Mr Burke's comments to the press conference as intimidatory.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the comments made by Mr Burke ... had a clear tendency to interfere with the administration of justice by putting improper pressure on NAALAS and potential witnesses," he said.

"Whether or not Mr Burke realised he was committing a contempt of court, he deliberately adopted a course of conduct that he should have known to be unacceptable."

"Justice Wilcox said he had decided to impose a "relatively modest" penalty on Mr Burke."

"But he warned: "Mr Burke would be prudent to proceed on the basis that, if he were to repeat his contempt, the court would be likely to impose a very significant penalty; quite possibly a term of imprisonment."

"NAALAS submitted that Mr Burke was in contempt because his criticisms were intended to prevent NAALAS proceeding with the case and dissuade witnesses, including Supreme Court judges, from giving evidence." Source

This successfully argued submission arose from Denis' comments about the Bradley case, namely that it was a waste of taxpayers' money.

Toyne has gone further than Denis did, in criticizing the NAP court cases.

He has publicly attacked NAP members, presumed a guilty verdict and tried to portray a public repugnance towards NAP, that only exists in the mind of a person who has dubbed himself the 'Headkicker'.*

The NAP legal team will submit that Toyne's comments are in contempt of court and will request he refrain from making further comments about NAP's ongoing cases.

We will argue that Toyne's remarks "had a clear tendency to interfere with the administration of justice, by putting improper pressure on (NAP) and potential witnesses." - (Justice Wilcox)

It needs to be remembered that Toyne is not only NT Attorney General, but a subpoenaed witness in NAP trials.