Professor Tom Collins:

I thank Senator Kyne. The board was informed of the issue at its meeting last week. I understand it has to do with the fact that delegation processes and protocols were not fully exercised over a particular period. We will be getting a report specifically dealing with the questions the Senator has raised. I fully accept how demoralising it must be for people on the ground who are bringing prosecutions and given the work involved in that at so many different levels to find that the cases are abandoned on what are essentially technical grounds. I do not have the specifics on the numbers involved or on the costs, but I will certainly find those out and provide them to the committee.