Hidden away in the Senate Hansard, 29/5/98, p3541, is a speech by Senator Bill Heffernan (Lib N.S.W.).

N.S.W.). Apart from a brief mention on a radio station,it has not been reported in the media. An edited version is reproduced below.
“Recently I made a speech in which I highlighted the code of silence which protects worldwide child sex networks including people in the judiciary,parliament, clergy and the public service.
Many of these people live in an abhorrent culture in which is included, as a spoils of office, the right to havesex with children. These people put themselves at continual risk of serious compromise in their work places as perpetrators, as too do those people who knowingly ignore or turn a blind eye to this ultimate betrayal of our children.Honourable senators should be concerned at recent developments involving the criminal Justice Commission, the body set up to investigate official corruption in Queensland after the Fitzgerald iniquity. One of the senior members of this body, Mr. Bob Hailstone, a former priest and manager of the ABC in Brisbane, and director of the corruption prevention division of the CJC, has left the CJC in what could only be called exceptional circumstances.
In November last year a Queensland police paedophilia task force raided Hailstone’s house in Bardon and took possession of a great deal of obscene material. Last week Charles Goh, a man who lives with Hailstone, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates court on charges of possessing for sale indecent or obscene material.
These charges raise serious issues of concern. I have in my possession a letter which I will now read into the public record, which records disturbing incidents alleged to have occurred at Mr. Hailstone’s house. The letter was written by Mr. Phillip Wood.
Hailstone recently resigned from the CJC rather than face disciplinary charges including association with an inappropriate person.
It seems to me that the whole period of Hailstone’s service with the Criminal Justice Commission should be examined, particularly as this body has failed in the past to investigate paedophilia allegations.
The letter written to a Brisbane solicitor reads as follows:-

Dear John,
On 30 June 1996, I attended a luncheon party at the home of Mr. Robert Hailstone. In attendance were a total of 14 persons, including Mr.Robert Hailstone...During the course of the luncheon, some of the guests and the host were talking about having sex with young Asian boys, especially during their holidays in Thailand. This conversation was somewhat disturbing to me as I regard pederasty as anathema, but I said nothing.

Later on the conversation was about the church and their involvement in it,some of the group having been to church that day. This triggered a hostile reaction in me and I asked them how they could be involved in an institution that so vocally condemns homosexuality. This prompted an outburst of abuse by one of their number to me, with me responding by calling them a bunch of church going paedophiles and saying they should be outed (meaning to publicly expose them).

I then left the house.

As I was reversing out of the driveway, I clipped the wing mirror of one ofthe other cars. This brought the lot of them out onto the driveway, shouting abuse and kicking the driver’s side of my car, breaking the driver’s side window...I was covered in glass, bleeding and very shaken up, but I drove to my home in Victoria Point without incident.

Mr. Robert Hailstone, who is a director of the CJC, had stated to me on a number of occasions that he could have anyone in Queensland arrested on a trumped up drug charge. With this in mind, I was afraid to report the incident to the police. I paid for the repairs to the side of my car ($920) and made two separate claims to the NRMA insurance company for the damage to the front($2785) and rear ($870) of my car. I hope this account is comprehensive enough.

Yours Sincerely

Phillip J Wood.

Madam President, this letter was dated 8 November 1996. Mr. Wood was found dead in his home on 10 November 1996.”

Now, here are the two CJC press releases.

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MEDIA RELEASE FROM CJC

4 February 1998

CJC Chairperson Frank Clair revealed today that the lengthy and exhaustive investigation into the activities of CJC Director Mr. Bob Hailstone had failed to produce evidence to support any criminal charge against him.
“I have been advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Royce Miller QC of the results of the investigation which was carried out by the Queensland Police Service over some 15 months,” Mr. Clair said.
The investigation was initially conducted under the auspices of the Connolly–Ryan Inquiry but, when that Inquiry was shut down by the Supreme Court for apprehended bias, the investigation was placed under the supervision of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr. Miller has advised as follows:
“I have no hesitation at all in informing you that the evidence gathered in the course of Mr.Xxxxxxxxx’ extensive investigations would not justify the laying of any criminal charge under the laws of the State of Queensland against your Commission’s employee, Mr. Robert Hailstone.”
Mr. Clair condemned the publicity which has surrounded the investigation.
“The investigation was commenced on the flimsiest of evidence fed into the Connolly–Ryan Inquiry from the office of a politician,” Mr. Clair said.
“It was then pursued with an over-zealousness which attended many of the activities of the Connolly–Ryan Inquiry when those activities were directed against the CJC or one of its officers.
“It is highly unfortunate, indeed tragic, that the fact of the existence of this investigation was touted in various quarters and ultimately found its way into the public arena.
“I say tragic because, in the hubbub which followed the release of the Children’s Commissioner’s Report on in August of last year and which culminated in the resolution of Parliament to create a Crime Commission to address, among other things, the issue of , some public comment and some political capital was made of the fact that a senior CJC officer was reportedly under investigation for ‘ offences’.
“An intensive investigation has been carried out — it could not have been more intensive — and those allegations of have come to nought.
“In the process, the identification of Mr. Hailstone as the subject of allegations has impacted severely upon his career as Director of Corruption Prevention with the CJC.
“Further, the existence of these unresolved allegations has cast a pall over the CJC during a crucial period inits existence.
“They have been used in the worst possible way. It has been implied in some published articles that the CJC may have been soft on because there was a paedophile in its ranks.
“Such assertions, implied or otherwise,were outrageous, but security concerns surrounding the investigation made it impossible to deal with them fully at the time they were made.
“I have no doubt, however, that the suspicion created by the mere existence of this investigation was used as one of the blocks to form the sacrificial altar on which the CJC was laid out in recent times.
“It is ironic that the progress of the Fitzgerald reform agenda, designed to achieve a fair but effective corruption free system of criminal justice, should be set back as a result,partly at least, of such abuse.”
Mr. Miller also advised that he was of the view that disciplinary proceedings were warranted against Mr. Hailstone in respect of some incidental matters arising out of the investigation.
Mr.Clair said that the CJC has already determined that those disciplinary matters should be addressed but had to await the outcome of the criminal investigation before doing so.
The disciplinary matters do not involve any suggestion of paedophile activity, or relate to the shredding of papers at the CJC on 11 November 1997 C the investigation did not reveal any evidence of impropriety in that regard.
Mr. Clair also said that there was no evidence that ‘Mr.Hailstone was counselled at the CJC in 1991 because of concerns about his behaviour’ as has been alleged in some media articles.
The ‘former CJC staffer’ referred to in those articles was interviewed in the course of the investigation and rejected the assertion that such a counselling took place.There is no record at the CJC of any such counselling, or any such concerns ever being raised.
“The investigation did not find evidence to support the charge, made in media articles, that Mr. Hailstone had threatened to have people‘set up’ on drug charges through the CJC if they ‘gave him trouble’,” Mr. Clair said.
Mr. Clair said the CJC cooperated fully with the investigation in every possible way. It will now address the outstanding disciplinary issues and advise the results after the proper procedures have been followed.
Issued by Media Liaison Officer, Christine Henderson: (07) 3360 6344 or 0417 787 276 (note new mobile number for media queries)

PRESS RELEASE FROM CJC

11 MAY 1998

CJC Chairperson, Mr. Frank Clair, today announced that Mr. Robert Hailstone,the Director of the CJC’s Corruption Prevention Division, tendered his resignation on 7 May 1998.
Mr. Hailstone’s resignation was accepted at a meeting of the Commission on 8 May 1998. Mr. Hailstone’s letter of resignation,dated 7 May 1998, was in the following terms:
“Acting upon medical advice following extensive consultations with my doctors, I tender my resignation as Director of the Corruption Prevention Division of the Criminal Justice Commission effective from today.”
“Mr. Hailstone had been on unpaid leave since 26 November 1997,” Mr. Clair said.
“The Commission had reviewed a substantial amount of material which resulted from a Queensland Police Service investigation concerning Mr. Hailstone and others, and as a result, he was due to appear before the Commission in relation to alleged disciplinary breaches ofthe Commission’s Code of Conduct on 13 May 1998.
“The alleged disciplinary breaches did not in any way relate to paedophile activity. There is no evidence of Mr. Hailstone’s involvement in such activities. This is supported by the determination of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“With Mr. Hailstone’s resignation, the disciplinary proceedings are brought to an end.
“The CJC has kept the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee informed throughout the disciplinary proceedings, and had agreed last week to provide a report to the PCJC today.
“In keeping with my undertaking on 4 February 1998 to make the results of any disciplinary proceedings public, I decided on Friday to issue a media statement today about the matter, following the provision of advice to the PCJC.”
Mr. Clair said that the Courier-Mail newspaper had repeatedly published false and misleading articles which distorted the facts in this matter and falsely accused the Commission and its Chairperson of wrongdoing.
He said that in view of this unfair and persistent campaign, a formal complaint would be lodged with the Press Council about the behaviour of the Courier-Mail and its Editor.
Contact: Christine Henderson - (07) 3360 6344 or 0417 787276

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Now when you read the two CJC press releases you can work out what happened.  The 1997, ill fated Connolly Ryan Inquiry received some information, relating to allegations of paedophile activity by the CJC’s Director of the Corruption Prevention Division, Mr. Bob Hailstone, possibly from Senator Heffernan.

After the closure of the Connolly Ryan Inquiry, it is apparent the Hailstone file was forwarded to the Qld. DPP, Mr Royce Miller, for investigation under his“supervision”.

What Mr Miller then did, seems to me, to be a bit odd.  Instead of sending the Hailstone file the Police Task Force Argos, whose responsibility it was to investigate suspected paedophilia, he sent it to the head of the Juvenile Aid Bureau. This is the policeman Xxxxxxxxx referred to in the CJC press release.

What is significant about this particular policeman was that he was a suspected paedophile himself and his history is extensively covered in the CJC’s own Kimmins Report published in August, 1998. He is in fact R3-P.

Here is an extract from the Kimmins Report.

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Allegations against a high-ranking police officer

During the course of Project Triton, allegations were received concerning the conduct of a present
high-ranking officer within the QPS. The allegations are of two categories, namely:
• that the police officer had himself engaged in homosexuality and paedophilia (and had been
protected against investigation by higher-ranking police)
• that the police officer had acted to protect a priest from investigation in respect of allegations
that the priest had engaged in paedophilia.
The allegations relate to matters said to have occurred over the many years this person has served as
a police officer. In other words, they cover periods when the high-ranking police officer was a
junior constable, was of higher non-commissioned officer rank, and commissioned officer rank.
In light of the fact that thorough investigation by Project Triton demonstrated that these allegations
are unfounded, with most based upon groundless scuttlebutt, it is only just that the identity of the
high-ranking police officer be preserved. Accordingly, I have assigned to him the code-number
‘R3-P’.
There is a risk that the merest reporting of an investigation into allegations against this officer will
lead to speculation about his identity by many of his colleagues and subordinates, a great number of
whom have no doubt heard and/or participated in the rumour mongering. However, that is a risk
which cannot be avoided in any fair and responsible reporting of the matter. If R3-P happens to be
so identified, it is to be hoped that such recognition may bring an end to the years of baseless gossip
and malicious innuendo that have plagued him, and perhaps go some way to repairing the damage
which was doubtless occasioned by the spreading of such allegations by those with suspicious minds
or vested interests.
142
Inquiry into Allegations of Misconduct in the Investigation of Paedophilia in Queensland
It is also worth noting that for virtually every allegation,there was no direct evidence advanced of
the conduct alleged. There was,however, invariably a suggestion that ‘X’ knows of or can confirm
the allegation. Nevertheless, a serious attempt was made to investigate each allegation. What was
discovered was that ‘X’ either was not able to confirm the matter, or had been dead for years.
After a thorough and exhaustive investigation of the matter, I am well and truly satisfied that the
various allegations concerning R3-P are unfounded, with most based upon groundlessscuttlebutt.
Before setting out some brief summary of the matters investigated, I make the following brief
observation of R3-P.
R3-P is a married man with a number of children. He joined the Queensland Police Department in
the mid-1960s, and has risen to commissioned officer rank. Heis well educated and articulate. It is
not hard to imagine how such an officer would have grated on others within the traditionally macho
police culture.
Allegations of personal involvement in paedophilia
A number of allegations suggesting that R3-P engaged in paedophilia (and was protected from
investigation) were identified. Each has been investigated by Project Triton.
It is obvious that some allegations are merely variations upon a common theme. This, in itself,
provides some basis to conclude that the accusations are the stuff of urban myth rather than fact.
However, it is convenient and necessary to set out a summary of the various allegations, and the
steps taken to investigate them.
An incident in a police car.Project Triton identified various allegations suggesting that as a
constable, R3-P had been discovered in a compromising position with a male youth in a police car.
It is hard to pin down this allegation. The story varies:
• From R3-P being located at Boss Road, Inala — to Ellen Grove near Inala — then to South
Brisbane.
• From R3-P merely being located in a police vehicle — to being found in the rear seat of the
police vehicle.
• From the incident occurring at 11 a.m. — to it occurring at dusk.
•>From R3-P being located in the company of one boy — to being found with a number of
children.
• From R3-P merely being found in the company of a boy — to being discovered in a compromising
position with the boy.
• From noreport being furnished by the Detective Senior Sergeant who located R3-P — tothe
young detective who located him being sent back to uniform and transferred to a posting he did
not want when he tried to take action against R3-P.
In every case it was impossible to find any direct evidence for the accusation. Invariably, the
information volunteered was that investigators should speak to ‘X’, who knew something of the
matter. Of course, ‘X’ inevitably knew nothing of the allegation, or, alternatively,nominated some
other person to whom investigators should speak (without result).
R3-P denied, both at interview and in evidence, that any incident of the type described had ever
occurred. There is not a skerrick of evidence with which to dispute that denial.
In my view, the story seems to have the characteristics of an urban myth, and is about as reliable.
An allegation that an investigation was quashed. Information was received by Project Triton
from a former police officer (P) to the effect that an investigation into allegations that R3-P was
Kimmins Report
143
involved in paedophilia had been quashed by then Commissioner Terry Lewis.
It was claimed by P that the incident the subject of investigation had occurred when R3-P was
serving in a squad at Oxley, and that a file detailing the investigation had been removed from the
Oxley Police Station. P could not say who his informant was, but said that he had heard about this
matter from a number of people.He said, ‘the investigation is quite provable if you interview
“Barney”Pitman.’ It was suggested by P that Pitman was the officer in charge of Oxley Police
Station at the time of the incident.
‘Barney’ Pitman is, in fact,Mr Brian Pitman, who retired as Acting Deputy Commissioner of
Police in1990. Mr Pitman was interviewed by Project Triton on 18 December 1997.
According to Mr Pitman, who was in charge of the Oxley Police Station from February 1986 to
June 1986 and did not otherwise serve at Oxley Police Station, R3-P was not on the staff at Oxley
during that period, nor was he ever under his command. Furthermore, Mr Pitman said he had no
knowledge of a file concerning R3-P being removed from Oxley Police Station, and believed that he
would have remembered if such a matter had occurred.
When interviewed, R3-P denied this matter and said he had no knowledge of any such investigation
or any incident involving the removal of a file. R3-P has never been stationed in a squad at Oxley
Police Station. No record of the incident said to involve R3-P can be located.
The allegation raised by P is vague and, for that reason, difficult to investigate. His claims that the
incident occurred when R3-P was attached to the Oxley Police Station and that Pitman had knowledge
of the matter are shown to be incorrect.
In the circumstances, it is likely that the allegation has no foundation in fact.
Additionally, P also told Project Triton that there is a person with the same name as R3-P and that
this other person is a known paedophile. P alleged that police had mixed the files in such a way as
to thwart investigations into allegations against R3-P.
Investigations confirmed that a person sharing the name of R3-P (although with different spelling of
the surname) is known to police as an active paedophile and has regularly been before the courts.
No evidence has been discovered to support P’s contention that files have been mixed to protect R3-
P. In any event, given the system by which police investigations proceed and are recorded, with
emphasis placed upon details such as fingerprints, personal descriptions, dates of birth,next of kin,
and the like, it cannot reasonably be contended that allegations against one person can be easily
passed off against another person sharing the same name. Indeed, with one of those persons regularly
before the courts, and doubtless legally represented, the suggestion takes on an air of absurdity.
Of course, the fact that R3-P shares the same name as a known paedophile may go some way to
explaining a degree of the rumour mongering that has surrounded him.
Allegations concerning the wearing of female attire. Project Triton investigated allegations that
R3-P had been witnessed wearing women’s clothing. The allegations suggested that R3-P had been
seen:
• at Brisbane Airport wearing women’s clothing and a woman’s wig in the early 1980s
• at George and Herschell Streets wearing a woman’s wig in the early 1970s.
R3-P denied these incidents to Project Triton investigators, and when he gave evidence no one
cross-examined him about the alleged incidents or even suggested that they had happened.
144
Inquiry into Allegations of Misconduct in the Investigation of Paedophilia in Queensland
An incident at a public toilet. Project Triton investigated various allegations which placed R3-P in
compromising positions with males at public toilets at Stones Corner, New Farm, Buranda and
Toowong.
None of the allegations has been substantiated.
One of the allegations examined by Project Triton related to events which occurred at a Christmas
Party at New Farm Police Station in 1988, wherein it was alleged that another former police officer
had said that R3-P was a paedophile, and claimed to have seen R3-P emerge from a public toilet in
New Farm with young boys.
The allegations were subsequently the subject of a police investigation. That investigation was,in
turn, reviewed both by the Fitzgerald Inquiry and the CJC.
During that investigation, the former police officer who made the allegation admitted that it was
false, and offered an explanation as to why he had been motivated to make the false accusation. The
former police officer admitted that he had no evidence that R3-P was involved in improper activities,
although he had heard rumours to that effect.
The allegation — in its various forms — was denied by R3-P. It appears to be yet another myth!

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Now your readers may begin to understand how paedophilia is being covered-up in Queensland.

We have suspected paedophiles investigating suspected paedophiles and suspected paedophiles covering up for suspected paedophiles.

What is also interesting is that why was the Hailstone file forwarded to the DPP for investigation under his “supervision” and not the evidence given to the Connolly Ryan Inquiry on the Heiner Affair TOGETHER with the Morris Howard Report.

Piers,

I forgot to mention, that senior policemen referred to in the CJC,August,1998, Kimmins Report as R3-P has since retired from the police service.

He is now a board member on the body on the south side of Brisbane responsible for - and I quote from their mission statement.

“To enhance child protection by reducing the trauma experienced by children and young people (aged 3-17 years) who are required to give evidence within the criminal justice system as victims or witnesses.”

I will let you and your other readers comment on that one!