Royal Commission of Inquiry into Chamberlain Convictions
Morling Royal Commission · Morling Inquiry · Royal Commission of inquiry into the Chamberlain convictions
2 April 1986 – 2 June 1987
Royal commission by Justice Trevor Morling, held jointly with the Northern Territory, into doubts about the 1982 convictions of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain over the death of their daughter Azaria at Uluru in 1980.
How it came into existence
Appointed by Letters Patent of 2 April 1986, issued by Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen on the advice of the Hawke government, after the discovery of Azaria’s matinee jacket near Uluru in February 1986. Justice Trevor Rees Morling of the Federal Court was to inquire into doubts or questions as to the Chamberlains’ guilt or the evidence at their trial, and could sit in combination with the Commission of Inquiry under the Northern Territory’s Commission of Inquiry (Chamberlain Convictions) Act 1986, to which he was also appointed.
Legislation: Royal Commissions Act 1902
How it ended
Reported in 1987; the report was tabled in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly on 2 June 1987 and also presented to federal Parliament. Morling concluded that there was a reasonable doubt as to the Chamberlains’ guilt: the case that Lindy Chamberlain had murdered Azaria had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, and the scientific evidence relied on at trial was doubtful. The Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal quashed both convictions on 15 September 1988. The Parliamentary Handbook gives 2 June 1987 as the date the final report was presented.
Main functions
- Inquiry into the evidence behind the Chamberlain convictions
- Review of forensic evidence given at the trial
Lineage
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Sources
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.