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Royal Commission on Jacob Johnson

Royal Commission on Jacob Johnson (1931) · Jacob Johnson inquiry

29 August 1931 – 1 October 1931

Judicial inquiry under the Royal Commissions Act into the case of Jacob Johnson, former general secretary of the Seamen's Union, whom the Bruce government had sought to deport in 1925 and who had later served a prison sentence.

How it came into existence

Johnson and Tom Walsh, leaders of the Seamen's Union, were the subject of deportation proceedings in 1925, and Johnson later served about four and a half months in gaol after a prosecution that his supporters called a frame-up; in 1929 the Attorney-General, J. G. Latham, refused a royal commission after a prosecution witness, Andresen, alleged collusion. On 14 July 1931 the Scullin government's Attorney-General, Frank Brennan, announced a public inquiry into evidence said to have come to light since the case was finally dealt with on appeal, and into matters raised in a report to the Acting Attorney-General, including documents said to be missing from departmental files. The inquiry was conducted by a judge; his name was not confirmed; the Letters Patent are dated 29 August 1931.

Changes during its life

  1. 14 July 1931The Attorney-General announced the government's decision to hold a public inquiry.

How it ended

The report was handed to the Governor-General in Melbourne on 1 October 1931 and reached the Prime Minister the next day, to be laid before Parliament. Its findings were not found in the sources consulted.

Main functions

  • Inquiry into new evidence about Johnson's prosecution and conviction
  • Inquiry into documents said to be missing from Attorney-General's Department files
  • Consideration of Johnson's claim to compensation

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.