'Drowning in hypocrisy': Neil Mitchell takes aim over alleged police leaks
Radio host Neil Mitchell has accused the state government of "drowning in hypocrisy" after it criticised him over allegations a Liberal candidate leaked him internal police documents before the last state election.
On Thursday, Deputy Premier James Merlino seized on allegations that Senior Sergeant Michael Lamb, who unsuccessfully contested the 2018 election, leaked information about 21 crimes to 3AW.
On 3AW on Friday morning the veteran broadcaster argued that the public had a right to know about the details of violent crimes "because these thugs could come storming into your home".
Radio host Neil Mitchell.Credit:Justin McManus
"I need to discuss this because my name is in the middle of it and the state government has leapt onto it like a rabid dog," Mr Mitchell said.
"According to reports in the Leader newspapers, a police sergeant called Michael Lamb, a former Liberal candidate, has been accused of leaking information to me.
"He has pleaded not guilty so I won't comment on the case, I will not comment on the case."
Senior Sergeant Lamb was suspended with pay in February last year after being charged with four counts of disclosing police information without reasonable excuse following an internal police investigation.
Mitchell said the public had a right to know about violent crimes in their neighbourhoods, and that he would "not apologise" for broadcasting leaked information about them.
"If I revealed sources nobody would ever tell me, and you, anything at all," Mitchell said.
"There'd be no red hot tip, no rorts exposed. Over the years, I've been leaked material from very high positions in state and federal governments, police force, business, union, education systems, prison system, councils, health industries – and that's how a journalist works."
Senior Sergeant Michael Lamb at the Liberal conference in April, 2018.Credit:Daniel Pockett
He listed a series of achievements after sources leaked him internal documents, including information that led to the resignation of Victoria Police's then-chief commissioner Simon Overland, and the closing down of Ford in Australia.
Following calls by Mr Merlino for former Liberal leader Matthew Guy and current leader Michael O'Brien to answer questions about the allegations detailed in the Frankston Standard Leader, Mitchell said the state government was "drowning in hypocrisy".
"Mr Merlino is so excited he's salivating and he's taking this high moral ground," Mitchell said.
"This is the same government that ran the red shirts rort where the ministers refused to talk to police, refused to be interviewed. Where was your moral high ground there?
"The same government that wouldn't discuss the issue publicly because 'police are investigating', improper they said, but he'll go on at length when an issue is before the court."
Senior Sergeant Lamb said he could not comment on the case on Thursday. "I can't say anything, that matter's before the courts," he said.
During his election campaign, Senior Sergeant Lamb was caught up in a trainwreck interview with Sky News host David Speers, where the candidate seemed unsure of his party's energy policy.
In an election belting he lost the seat by 9.7 per cent, turning the state's second most marginal seat into a safe Labor electorate.
The Age and 3AW are both owned by Nine.