A New South Wales parliamentary committee has accused the state's top prosecutor, Sally Dowling, of giving false evidence under oath. The upper house inquiry voted 4-3 to find that Dowling authorized pitching a story to radio station 2GB about a sentencing hearing involving a young person, and then falsely denied doing so in her testimony.
The committee has recommended that the attorney general investigate whether there are grounds to remove Dowling from office as Director of Public Prosecutions. The inquiry's finding centers on a media leak about a young Indigenous offender, a case that has drawn scrutiny to the prosecution service's handling of sensitive information.
Dowling admitted her office pitched the story but insisted it was not authorized by her. Her colleagues have called her 'a person of integrity,' highlighting a sharp divide in perceptions. The committee's vote was split 4-3, reflecting political and professional tensions around the findings.
The report now puts pressure on the attorney general to act. If removed, Dowling would be the first NSW DPP ousted under such circumstances, marking an unprecedented event in the state's legal history.
Legal experts note that the findings are not a criminal conviction but a parliamentary judgment. The process for removal is separate and would require further legal and procedural steps.