Supreme Court refuses FLA bid for Integrity Commission report disclosure

The Supreme Court has turned down an application by the Firearm Licensing Authority seeking access to an Integrity Commission report before the document is tabled in Parliament. The report examines allegations of corruption, impropriety and irregularities linked to firearm licence grants, variations and revocations, as well as the handling of firearms and ammunition at the agency.

The dispute forms part of judicial review proceedings filed by the FLA against the Integrity Commission and its director of investigations, Kevin Stevenson. The FLA argued that the court needed to see the report to properly consider the challenge. Attorneys also relied on provisions of the Integrity Commission Act in seeking disclosure for the case.

In a ruling delivered in chambers by Justice Tara Carr, the court held that the report remains confidential under the Integrity Commission Act until it is formally tabled in Parliament. The court also found that the FLA already had enough information about the investigation, the decision makers and the grounds it intended to pursue at the leave stage.

The application for disclosure was refused, but the FLA was granted leave to appeal. Attorney Nico Pagan, who represents the authority, described the outcome as neutral, noting that the Court of Appeal may still consider whether the report should be released for the proceedings. The substantive judicial review matter is scheduled for September 17, 2026.

Attorneys Alexander Shaw and Seymour Stewart later differed on Parliament’s decision not to table the report while the matter remains before the courts. Shaw said Parliament appeared to be avoiding prejudice to active proceedings, while Stewart argued continued delay could amount to suppression of the report.

In a separate matter, the Court of Appeal overturned a professional misconduct finding against attorney-at-law and Eastern Portland MP Isat Buchanan. The case stemmed from comments he made in 2020 about former Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn while representing Adidja Palmer. The court set aside the misconduct finding and sanctions, and ordered the General Legal Council to pay Buchanan’s costs.