COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:

TO The Honourable Albert Edward Woodward, O.B.E.

GREETING:

WHEREAS by Letters Patent issued in Our name on 12 September 1981 by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and in pursuance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and other enabling powers, We appointed you to be a Commissioner to inquire into certain matters relating to the handling of meat for export and the exportation of meat:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable that your inquiry be extended to certain matters that do not fall within the matters to be inquired into under the Letters Patent issued on 12 September 1981:

NOW THEREFORE, We do, by these Our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the advice of the Federal Executive Council and in pursuance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and other enabling powers, vary the Letters Patent issued on 12 September 1981 so as to require you -

(a) to inquire, for the purpose of the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of the Parliament and Government of the Commonwealth, into the following matters, namely -

(i) whether administrative arrangements and procedures for the supervision of the handling of meat for human consumption in the Northern Territory of Australia are adequate to ensure that all such meat meets the requirements prescribed by law;

(ii) whether malpractices are occurring, or have occurred, in the handling of meat for human consumption in the Northern Territory of Australia;

(iii) allegations made, whether in public or to a Minister, department or authority of the Commonwealth, of malpractices alleged to have occurred during the past ten years in the handling of meat for human consumption in the Northern Territory of Australia;

(iv) whether such allegations were dealt with in a manner that was adequate and effective;

(v) whether in response to such allegations any illegality or corruption occurred; and

(b) to make your inquiry as expeditiously as possible and -

(i) if you consider it appropriate to do so, to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia an interim report or interim reports of the results of your inquiry into the matters specified in the Letters Patent issued on 12 September 1981 or an interim report or interim reports of the results of your inquiry into the matters specified in these Letters Patent;

(ii) not later than 1 September 1982, or such later date as We may be pleased to fix, to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a report of the results of your inquiry into, and your recommendations concerning, the matters specified in the Letters Patent issued on 12 September 1981; and

(iii) not later than 1 September 1982, or such later date as We may be pleased to fix, to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a separate report of the results of your inquiry into, and your recommendations concerning, the matters specified in these Letters Patent.

WITNESS His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight of the Order of Australia, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, one of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.

Dated this twenty-sixth day of November 1981.

Governor-General