Royal Commissions & Public Inquiries

Collins Chambers represents individuals and organisations appearing before Royal Commissions, IBAC, the Australian Crime Commission, coronial inquests, and other public inquiries and standing commissions exercising compulsory powers.

An inquiry is not a trial, and treating it as one is a common and costly error. Witnesses appear under compulsion, the rules of evidence do not generally apply, the protections available to an accused in criminal proceedings are substantially absent — and yet what is said in the witness box can end careers, found subsequent prosecutions, and become permanently public. The interests of a witness are rarely identical to the interests of the institution that employs them, and the point at which those interests diverge is usually earlier than either realises.

The firm’s work includes advising persons summonsed to give evidence or produce documents, preparing witnesses for examination, appearing as counsel assisting the interests of individual witnesses at hearing, claiming and protecting privileges and immunities where available, advising on the risk of derivative criminal or disciplinary proceedings, and managing the personal and professional consequences of adverse publicity.

Where an individual is a person of interest rather than a mere witness, the engagement is conducted with that reality squarely in view, including the coordination of the inquiry response with the defence of any anticipated criminal or regulatory proceedings.

The firm also acts in coronial inquests for interested parties — families, professionals, and organisations — where findings may carry professional, reputational, or legal consequences.

Persons who receive a summons, notice to attend, or invitation to provide a statement to any commission or inquiry should obtain advice before responding. The first response often matters most.