The Easton Royal Commission
In April 1995, Keith Wilson, a Minister and Cabinet member in November 1992, told Paul McGeough, a journalist then employed by the Sydney Morning Herald, that the Easton matter was raised at a Cabinet meeting prior to the tabling of the petition.
On 18 April 1995, another Minister in the Cabinet, Pam Beggs, made a statement supportive of Wilson.
In May 1995, Richard Court, who had succeeded Lawrence as Premier following the election of 1993, requested the creation of a Royal Commission to determine the circumstances of the tabling of the Easton petition. The Commissioner was Sir Kenneth Marks QC. The establishment of the Commission attracted severe attacks from Lawrence's colleagues in the federal parliamentary Labor party. The federal Member for Perth, Stephen Smith, was particularly hostile and made public comments, before the identity of the commissioner was announced, warning that anyone undertaking the Commission would regret it.
On 14 November 1995, the Marks Royal Commission released a report which found that Lawrence had misled the Western Australian Parliament concerning her knowledge of and role in the tabling of the petition. Prime Minister Paul Keating denounced the Commission as a political stunt and accused the Commissioner of bias.
Read more about this topic: Easton Affair
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