The timeline

This is a time-line of the major events relating to the investigation.

Tue 30-Aug-05 CEO asks Labour why pledge card and brochure not authorised

Fri 02-Sep-05 CEO writes to Mike Smith

Tue 06-Sep-05 Mike Smith replies to CEO saying it is all the Leader’s Office

Mon 12-Sep-05 CEO repeats questions to Mike Smith

Wed 14-Sep-05 Mike Smith writes to CEO offering to include pledge cards in election advertising

Wed 05-Oct-05 Mike Smith writes to CEO withdrawing offer to include pledges cards

Thu 20-Oct-05 CEO refers lack of authorisation to Police

Mon 12-Dec-05 Heather Simpson spoken to by phone

Tue 27-Dec-05 DSS Arnerich recomends to DI Quinn not to prosecute Labour for lack of authorisation

Wed 18-Jan-06 DI Quinn recommends to OOTC not to prosecute Labour for lack of authorisation

Thu 09-Feb-06 Electoral Commission refers Labour to Police for over-spending by $418,603

Mon 27-Feb-06 DI Peoples recommends to DS Perry no prosecutions

Mon 27-Feb-06 DS Perry recommends to AC Marshall no prosecutions

Wed 01-Mar-06 AC Marshall recommends to ADC Carson not to prosecute but to have Dr Andrew Jack review the rport

Thu 02-Mar-06 Acting Dep Cmsr Carson asks Crown Law and OOTC Chief Legal Adviser to review

Fri 17-Mar-06 Police announce, on arguably last possible day, no prosecutions

Mon 20-Mar-06 CEO writes to Police asking for recommendations referred to by ADC Carson

Tue 21-Mar-06 Meeting between Police and CEO re Police release

Wed 22-Mar-06 Police write to CEO to advise Police will contact OAG re Parl Expend Rules

Some key things to note at this stage:

1) Labour were first alerted to the CEO’s concerns 18 days before the election. The standard campaign is in the last four weeks mainly, so this was quite early in the peice

2) Labour agreed, prior to the election, to include the pledge cards in their expenditure

3) Only three weeks later did Labour withdraw its agreement – after the election