Labor leader defends letter for siege gunman
New South Wales Opposition Leader John Robertson has defended himself following reports he signed a letter for a request on behalf of Man Haron Monis, the man who killed two people during the siege in Martin Place.
"This was in no way a letter of support or endorsement," Mr Robertson told reporters outside the NSW parliament this afternoon.
"It is standard practice," he said.
Robertson was acting in his capacity as Member for Blacktown in September 2011 when he signed a letter relating to a dispute between Monis and his second wife Noleen Hayson Pal.
"He met with staff in my Blacktown electorate office on one occasion regarding a family custody matter in August 2011," Robertson admitted in a statement on Monday morning.
"His request was forwarded in a routine manner to the Department of Family & Community Services."
The department refused Monis's request.
Mr Robertson said he has forwarded the correspondence to the joint review into the Martin Place siege.
His office has declined to release the letter, citing confidentiality.
The letter was signed several years after Monis wrote inflammatory letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers.
Robertson to put out statement confirming letter supporting Monis gaining greater access to kids - involved in dispute with Monis' 2nd wife
— Lee Jeloscek (@jeloscek) December 21, 2014
Robertson's letter was several years after Monis had been convicted for sending vile letters to the families of dead soldiers.
— Lee Jeloscek (@jeloscek) December 21, 2014
Monis had been granted bail before he killed two people during the Sydney siege, despite being charged with being an accessory before and after the fact in the 2013 murder of ex-wife Noleen Pal.
She was stabbed multiple times and set alight in a western Sydney unit block.
Morning news break – December 22
