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NSW Inquiry finds top prosecutor gave false evidence; Attorney General calls it a ‘stitch up’

Published July 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC

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In a significant development in New South Wales' legal landscape, a parliamentary inquiry has found that the state's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sally Dowling SC, provided false evidence under oath regarding a media leak involving a young Indigenous offender. The inquiry's report, released on July 7, 2026, accuses Dowling of authorizing the leak to radio station 2GB and subsequently denying her involvement during the inquiry. The leak pertained to a sentencing hearing where District Court Judge Penelope Wass permitted a 17-year-old Indigenous boy to perform an Acknowledgment of Country before his sentencing. The story, which aired on 2GB's breakfast show, was based on sensitive information that could have led to the identification of the young offender. The committee's majority report states that Dowling's office "proactively and surreptitiously" pitched the story to the media, potentially breaching prosecution guidelines and risking the identification of the child involved. The report further recommends that Attorney-General Michael Daley consider establishing a formal inquiry to determine whether there are grounds to remove Dowling from office. In response, Attorney-General Daley expressed full confidence in Dowling, describing the report as a "stitch-up from the outset." He criticized the findings as unsupported by evidence and stated that he would instruct the Crown Solicitor's Office to brief senior counsel to review the report. Dowling has consistently denied authorizing the leak, admitting only that her office pitched the story but asserting that it was not authorized by her. She has also called the inquiry a "gross denial of procedural fairness." The inquiry's focus on Dowling has been controversial, with some committee members dissenting from the majority report. Greens MLC Sue Higginson, who filed a dissenting statement, described the findings as "unfounded and biased," stating that they were "irresponsible and incredible." She also criticized the committee for discarding sworn testimony and relying on "confected evidence and inference to assume guilt." Prior to the report's release, Dowling's counterparts from all Australian jurisdictions expressed support for her integrity. In a letter dated June 30, 2026, the Commonwealth, state, and territory directors of public prosecutions collectively stated that they hold Dowling in high regard and have always found her to conduct herself in an exemplary and ethical manner. The controversy surrounding the leak and the subsequent inquiry has raised questions about the independence and integrity of the DPP's office and the broader judicial system in New South Wales.