The police watchdog should not do its work behind closed doors

October 19, 2026 — 4:59pm

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The principle of open justice is important to maintaining confidence in our justice system. Justice should not only be done, but be seen to be done.

The same principle should be applied to the state’s police watchdog, particularly when it is probing an event as high-profile and politically charged as February’s protest against visiting Israeli president Isaac Herzog.

Instead, the opening address given on Monday will be the only public element of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s inquiry before it embarks on five weeks of private hearings with junior police on the frontline as the February 9 protest descended into........

© The Sydney Morning Herald