Dr Cairns defends Miss Morosi

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 1

Dr Cairns defends Miss Morosi

(New Zealand Press Association)

CANBERRA, February 20.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Jim Cairns'! today defended Miss Junie Morosi in Parliament against allegations about her former business dealings.

He denied suggestions that Miss Morosi was (not fit to work for him, [and said he had no intention of removing her from his staff.

The allegations against Miss Morosi were made in a statutory declaration read to the House of Representatives! by a New South Wales Lib-; eral back-bencher, Mr Wil-; liam Wentworth. One of the four signatories to the statutory declaration was Mr Alan Felton. Mr Felton, a businessman,! was placed on a good behaviour bond in a Sydney court today after pleading guilty to stealing a vanity case and a telephone index from Miss Morosi’s Sydney home. Mr Wentworth called for a Government inquiry into the circumstances of Miss Morosi’s appointment to Dr Cairns’s staff, and for her suspension while the inquiry was made. He also brought before Parliament allegations against the former Attorney-General, Senator (now Mr Justice) Murphy, in connection with Miss Morosi, and suggested; that Ministers might have; known about Miss Morosi’s! business dealings many| months ago. “Conspiracy’’ Dr Cairns said there was! evidence that a number of! members of the House, in-| eluding Mr Wentworth, had been associated with the; “conspiracy to enter Miss; Morosi’s home illegally.” Mr Wentworth raised the Morosi affair as a matter of public importance after question time today. The Government brought on other business immedi- 1 ately after Dr Cairns had replied to Mr Wentworth. Mr Wentworth said the substance of the debate he had sponsored was not primarily directed at Miss> Morosi, but at Ministers. The statutory declaration 'he produced was signed by “ex-employees and company officers and business associates of Miss Junie Morosi ;and Mr David Ditchburn !(Miss Morosi’s husband) and 'their companies.” Allegations I It alleged that Miss Morosi and Mr Ditchburn had fraudulently misappropriated !public money paid to their .companies; and passed numerous valueless cheques for payment of rent, wages, puri chases of equipment, and ! other purposes. It also alleged that Miss Morosi had urged employees to misrepresent the companies’ financial position to obtain loans and investment on false pretences; asked employees to assist in evading company taxes; and sponsored the immigration of Filipino girls, forcing them to work cheaply, and threatening to send them home if they complained. Mr Wentworth said he had checked the validity of the i four signatories to the statu-

Jtory declaration, which was dated December 13, 1974, and found them to be correct.

“Ministers knew”

He said subsequent inquiries by himself had shown that “Ministers were involved, and the circumstances (were such that they must “have known about certain of ; [these things.” I “These suspicions were dreadfully confirmed by sub-j [sequent events. “We have the various i [statements of the Treasurvj [in regard to this matter that! [were made in the press. “We have the resignations ; iwhich occurred from his of-' fice only yesterday or a few. days ago. “But, more importantly, we [have the misuse of Common'wealth police and Commonwealth police authorities by ithe former Senator Murphy,” said Mr Wentworth. I He said he had further statutory declarations, which he would produce later. ' Dr Cairns said Mr Went- [ [worth had made unsubstantiated allegations against Miss I >Morosi, who was a private [citizen and unable to defend j herself.

“No evidence" •‘Nowhere has he produced evidence. [ “He says these things on j the strength of a statutory [declaration signed by a man who was todav convicted on the criminal offence of break- j ing into Miss Morosi’s home,”! [he said. i Mr Fenton did not have a [conviction recorded, although he was found guilty of the; [charge of theft. “If this man (Mr Wentworth) had his way. Miss Morosi’s life would be destroyed and her future would [be destroyed,” Dr Cairns said. “He does not give a damn for Miss Morosi as an 1 individual citizen, if he can ; damage me, the former Senator Murphy, and this Government. “He will do anything for l political advantage, and he i has always stooped to that,” he said. “I know Miss Morosi and [her character.” said Dr Cairns. “I certify to this House that she is a person of integrity, honour and competence. “She is a person who has obtained the highest security ; clearance that it is possible for anyone to obtain. “She has been cleared bv security to perform the kind of task to which I have appointed her. “I have found from experience that she performs that ;task with competence, honour and integrity. “As long as 1 am satisfied about that, she will go on performing that task. “Nothing said by the hon-i ourable member for Mackellar (Mr Wentworth), nothing printed bv the tabloid newspapers, will change mv mind about that,” said Dr Cairns. Resignation* Dr Cairns said there was no suggestion that resignations from his office, or the dismissal of his Dress secretary. Mr Geoff Gleghorn, had i anything to do with, or sup-

| ported, the allegations put forward by Mr Wentworth. ! He said there was no evidence that the Commonwealth police had been misused. "They saw the offence take place. They arrested Mr Felton at the scene. Mr Felton was charged. Mr Felton pleaded guilty. Is that an improper use of the Commonj wealth police? I “He (Mr Wentworth) wants to have an inquiry on the , strength of that sort of I thing,” said Dr Cairns. "What humbug.” j Dr Cairns said Mr Wentworth had admitted on tele- [ vision that he knew Mr Feljton. There was evidence that Mr Wentworth was associated with the attempt to enter Miss Morosi’s home i illegally. Dr Cairns denied allegations Mr Wentworth made against Senator Murphy, and criticised the Speaker (Mr James Cope) for allowing Mr Wentworth to make allegations against a justice of the [High Court. “Normally mat-: ters of this kind are not per-; mitted to be said in this! [Parliament,” said Dr Cairns.