Carmen Lawrence Acquitted

The former Western Australian Premier and federal member for Fremantle, Dr. Carmen Lawrence, was acquitted in a Perth court on July 23, 1999, of charges of giving false testimony to a Royal Commission.

The charges arose from the Royal Commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the tabling of a petition concerning divorce proceedings between Brian and Penny Easton.

Lawrence was the subject of allegations during her time as Health Minister in the Keating government, but she was strongly defended by Keating. The former Prime Minister attacked the Royal Commission set up by the Court Government as a witchhunt.

• Click here to read an excellent article on the Lawrence trial by Brendan Nicholson from The Age.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------