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

 DONALD GERARD STEWART

GREETING:

BY these our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia on the advice of Our Federal Executive Council and in pursuance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and other enabling powers, We appoint you to be a Commissioner to make inquiry into the following matters so far as they are matters connected with the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth and are relevant to the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of the Parliament and Government of the Commonwealth, namely—

(a) whether Terrence John Clark, a person mentioned in the Finding made on 29 August 1980 in the Coroner’s Court at Melbourne in respect of the deaths of Douglas Robert Wilson and Isabel Martha Wilson, engaged in activities involving contravention of laws of the Commonwealth, in particular laws relating to the importation, exportation or possession of drugs, and, if so—

(i) the extent and nature of such activities of Terrence John Clark and persons associated with him;

(ii) the identity and involvement of persons associated with Terrence John Clark;

(iii) the methods of operation of Terrence John Clark and persons associated with him; and

(iv) the use made by Terrence John Clark and persons associated with him of banking, financial and other institutions in connection with those activities;

(b) whether, in the course of, or in connection with, activities of a kind referred to in paragraph (a), Terrence John Clark or any person associated with him directly or indirectly made or offered any payment or inducement for, or in connection with, or endeavoured by means of a threat to procure, the disclosure by any Commonwealth or State officer, or any person who was formerly a Commonwealth or State officer, of information relating to the activities of Douglas Robert Wilson, Isabel Martha Wilson or any other person;

(c) whether, in connection with activities of a kind referred to in paragraph (a), Terrence John Clark or any person associated with him procured or received, directly or indirectly, from a Commonwealth or State officer, or any person who was formerly a Commonwealth or State officer, any information (including information relating to any statement made by Douglas Robert Wilson or Isabel Martha Wilson concerning the activities of Terrence John Clark or any person associated with him);

(d) whether Terrence John Clark or any person associated with him or acting on his behalf in any way unlawfully interfered with or unlawfully attempted to interfere with the course of justice in relation to offences against laws of the Commonwealth;

AND We declare that in these Our Letters Patent—

(e) the expression ‘drug’ means a narcotic or psychotropic substance or any plant or material from which such a substance is derived or may be produced; and

(f) a reference to a person associated with Terrence John Clark is a reference to a person who, in or in connection with activities of a kind referred to in paragraph (a)—

(i) was associated, either directly or indirectly, with Terrence John Clark; or

(ii) acted, either directly or indirectly, on behalf of Terrence John Clark.

 AND We require you to make such recommendations arising out of your inquiry as you think appropriate, including recommendations as to the method of enforcement of the criminal law and the legislative or administrative changes (if any) that are necessary or desirable in the light of the results of your inquiry:

 AND We declare that you are authorized to conduct your inquiry under these Our Letters Patent in combination with any inquiry into the same or related matters that you are directed or authorized to make by any Commission issued, or in pursuance of any order or appointment made, by any of Our Governors of Our States:

 AND We require you as expeditiously as possible to make your inquiry and, not later than 30 June 1982 or such later date as Our Governor-General may be pleased to fix, to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a report of the results of your inquiry and your recommendations.

WITNESS His Excellency the Honourable Sir Stanley Charles Burbury, Knight Commander of The Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Dated this 25th day of June 1981.

STANLEY BURBURY

Administrator

By His Excellency’s Command

IAN VINER

Minister of State for Industrial
Relations for and on behalf of the
Prime Minister