WHAT THEY SAID

In his memoir "Diary of a Foreign Minister," Carr wrote about his decision to refuse a request from the Vietnamese Government to grant clemency to Phuong Ngo, who was serving a life sentence for the murder. Carr said that he believed Ngo was guilty and that he did not want to undermine the Australian legal system by granting clemency. Carr also criticized Ngo in a 2001 interview with ABC's Four Corners program, calling him a "murderer" and a "gangster." Carr accused Ngo of being involved in organized crime and of having ties to the Vietnamese Government. In 2018, Carr spoke out again about Ngo's case, saying that he believed Ngo had been unfairly targeted by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization) and that he should be released from prison. However, Carr's comments were controversial, and many people criticized him for defending a convicted murderer.

Michael Kirby is a retired Australian High Court judge who has expressed his opinions on long-term sentencing publically. Many eminent judges have said that it is time for NSW to abolish mandatory sentences and to trust in the wisdom and experience of our judges, to honour our commitments to progressive human rights and build a judicial system based on justice not vengeance. A Criminal Cases Review Commission such as has been set up in the UK, Canada and New Zealand could, where appropriate, review the sentences or the conditions of the sentences of lifers who have served 25 years or more in detention. Michael Kirby has made no public statements on the Phuong Ngo case. Given his previous judicial positions and public statements on human rights and the rule of law, it is possible that he has expressed concerns about the impact of long-term sentencing on prisoners' mental and physical health, as well as the fairness and effectiveness of such sentences.

Sentencing Ngo to life, Supreme Court Justice Dunford said he would have set a parole date but was prevented by mandatory sentencing laws. Quoting Section 19A of the NSW Crimes Act, Justice Dunford said Ngo’s crime fell into the worst category of crimes.

Ngo joined the Labor party in 1993 and for a while he was the golden son. The ALP hierarchy had encouraged Ngo to raise funds for the party and stack the Canley Vale branch with his fellow Vietnamese. In one night, Ngo raised several thousand dollars at a Labor party function in Canley Vale. The Governor General Bill Hayden opened the Mekong Club where Ngo held large party branch meetings. Bob Hawke and Grahame Richardson visited Cabramatta, but when Ngo was arrested and charged with the murder, the party bosses turned their thumbs down and threw him to the lions. Graham Richardson, a former Australian Labor Party politician, has made various comments about the Phuong Ngo case over the years. Phuong Ngo is a Vietnamese-Australian former politician who was convicted of ordering the assassination of John Newman, a fellow politician, in 1994. Here are some of Richardson's comments about the case: In 2006, Richardson wrote an article for The Australian newspaper in which he discussed his relationship with Ngo. He described Ngo as a "long-time friend" and expressed his disbelief at Ngo's involvement in the Newman murder. Richardson also criticized the media for portraying Ngo as a "sinister figure" and argued that the trial was unfair. In 2010, Richardson appeared on the ABC program "Q&A" and was asked about the Ngo case. He again expressed his belief that Ngo was innocent and criticized the Australian justice system for being too harsh on Vietnamese-Australians. He also suggested that the trial was influenced by anti-Asian sentiment and that Ngo was a victim of racism. In 2014, Richardson wrote another article for The Australian in which he discussed the release of a book about the Ngo case. He argued that the book provided new evidence that supported Ngo's innocence and called for the case to be reopened. He also criticized the Australian justice system for not allowing Ngo to have a fair trial. Overall, Richardson has been a vocal supporter of Phuong Ngo and has repeatedly argued that he is innocent of the charges against him. He has criticized the media and the Australian justice system for their treatment of Ngo and has called for the case to be reviewed.

Marion Le said she was reluctant to go to the police because Mr Ranse had spoken to her in confidence, but soon after the alleged confession in early 1998 a priest told her she needed to do something. A few months later, she asked a magistrate and two lawyers for advice and was warned not to go to the NSW police "because of the corruption". She considered talking to then police commissioner Peter Ryan and was advised not to speak to police investigating Mr Newman's murder.

In a 2005 interview, Jones expressed sympathy for the family and suggested that Ngo's sentence was too severe. He criticized the Australian legal system, saying that it was "too brutal" and that "there's no concept of redemption. Jones also expressed his views on long-term sentencing in general, stating that he believed in rehabilitation rather than punishment. He argued that long-term sentences did not serve the purpose of rehabilitation and that prisoners should be given a chance to reform and reintegrate into society. However, in a later interview with The Sydney Morning Herald in 2012, Jones appeared to take a different stance on the issue of long-term sentencing. He spoke in support of mandatory sentencing for serious crimes, saying that it was necessary to ensure that criminals were held accountable for their actions. It is worth noting that the views of Alan Jones on the Phuong Ngo case and long-term sentencing may have evolved or changed over time, and these statements represent a snapshot of his views at the time they were made.

Newman’s successor Reba Meagher told a judicial inquiry into the Ngo conviction that on 5 September 1994 Della Bosca had offered her a choice between St Marys and Cabramatta because there were two MPs “who probably would not be contesting the next election”. The MPs were Tony Aquilina and Newman. Reba Meagher is an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2011. She has made several comments about the Phuong Ngo case over the years. Here are some of her comments: In 2005, Meagher was quoted in the media as saying that she believed Ngo was involved in the assassination of John Newman. She stated that she had seen evidence that convinced her of Ngo's guilt, but did not provide any details about the evidence. In 2014, Meagher appeared on the ABC program "Q&A" and was asked about the Ngo case. She expressed her belief that Ngo was guilty of ordering the murder of Newman and criticized those who were advocating for his release. She also suggested that the focus should be on supporting the family of the victim rather than defending Ngo. In a 2014 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Meagher stated that she had no doubt that Ngo was involved in the Newman murder. She criticized those who were promoting conspiracy theories about the case and argued that the evidence against Ngo was overwhelming. Overall, Reba Meagher has been a vocal supporter of the conviction of Phuong Ngo for his role in the assassination of John Newman. She has stated that she has seen evidence that convinces her of Ngo's guilt and has criticized those who argue for his release.

“There was an apparent conflict between the evidence of Ms Meagher given to the Inquiry and the evidence of Mr Della Bosca given at the trial of Mr Ngo, in that he had denied an awareness, before Mr Newman’s murder, of any attempt to withdraw his preselection. Counsel Assisting the Inquiry interviewed Mr Della Bosca and the decision was taken that little purpose would be served by calling upon him to give evidence.”

Debbie Whitmont, an investigative journalist, covered the Phuong Ngo case, which involved the murder of a local MP, John Newman. In her commentary, she discussed the complexity of the case and the involvement of the Vietnamese community. She also raised questions about the credibility of the key witness and the prosecution's case, highlighting the lack of evidence linking Ngo to the murder. Despite this, Ngo was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Whitmont's commentary suggests that the case may have been influenced by political and cultural factors.

It was dubbed the first political assassination in Australia. Never mind that Ngo had a snowflake’s chance in hell of becoming the elected Cabramatta MP and forget the fact that party boss John Della Bosca had offered the seat to Reba Meagher on the afternoon before the murder. In the minds of Australians, Ngo wanted Newman’s seat and was prepared to kill for it - according Justices Dunford & Patten. There is no evidence that Ngo would be a threat to society, that he would import heroin, or even that he would carry out another assassination. In his sentencing remarks Justice Dunford conceded that Ngo was a “model prisoner” who had “assisted young prisoners” and set up the Fairfield Drug Intervention Centre. Ngo has concentrated his efforts on overturning the verdict, and has until now not appealed the severity of his sentence. On 3 April 2003 Ngo’s first appeal against his conviction was dismissed by the NSWCCA. He then applied for leave to appeal to the High Court. That too was dismissed. About Carlotta McIntosh - a journalist of the old school. For more than 20 years she endeavoured to inform and entertain, producing reports for ABC Radio from South East Asia, and as a staff reporter on the Illawarra Mercury and Fairfax Community Newspapers. Now retired she wants to impress on young journalists the need to respect the journalist’s code of ethics and to remember that journalists are not players, simply observers who should try their best to get the story and to get it right.

The Hon. Michael Daley is currently a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Maroubra for the Australian Labor Party since 2005. Daley is aligned with the Labor Right faction. Daley became Attorney-General of New South Wales on 28 March 2023. Michael John Daley is an Australian politician who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New South Wales from November 2018 to March 2019. He is currently a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Maroubra for the Australian Labor Party since 2005. Born: 1 November 1965 (age 57 years), Maroubra Office: Attorney General of New South Wales since 2023 Party: Australian Labor Party Spouse: Christina Ithier (m. 2005) Education: Marcellin Catholic College, Randwick (1983) Previous offices: Leader of the Opposition in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (2018–2019), Premier: Chris Minns The Hon. Michael Daley, MP Level 5, 806 Anzac Parade MAROUBRA NSW 2035 PostalThe Hon. Michael Daley MP PO Box 535 MAROUBRA NSW 2035 P(02) 9349 6440 F(02) 9349 4594 maroubra@parliament.nsw.gov.au