The “Commissioner’s Gin”: The Blue Labelled Drop That Webb Prefers on the Taxpayer Dollar

Independent NSW MLC Rod Roberts raised a 6 August 2024 motion, under Standing Order 52 in the NSW parliament, calling for the production of documents regarding a variety of matters that all relate to “maladministration and potential corruption at the highest level of the NSW Police Force”, and in particular, the member called out NSW police commissioner Karen Webb.

A former One Nation member, who left the party with Mark Latham, Roberts made clear that he doesn’t exercise this standing order lightly and the last time he did, it was in reference to former NSW police constable Daniel Kenneally, who was later reinvestigated by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) and subsequently convicted over fabricating false evidence.

Amongst the documents called for production were those “relating to the purchase, distribution or disbursement of bottles of alcohol by the Office of the Commissioner, including any document which discloses the cost centres used since 1 January 2022 for the administration and credit cards of the Office of the Commissioner.”

Roberts, an ex-NSW police officer, then went on to reveal that he has it from “very good informants” that Webb had “purchased in excess of 100 bottles of gin” and despite her having been on 2GB Radio shock jock Ben Fordham’s program that morning stating she’s used the taxpayer-funded gin as “gifts for visiting dignitaries”, he understood that the commissioner and her staff were downing it.

Chin-chin

Later on that same day that Roberts had called for NSW police minister Yasmine Catley to produce any documents in her possession related to the list of matters he read out, including those in respect of what’s become known as the “Commissioner’s Gin”, the LECC subsequently released a statement on its unpublished report into this matter, outlining that it didn’t find any serious misconduct.

The LECC determined to investigate Webb in relation to the gin after receiving a 27 September 2023 anonymous complaint in relation to the Commissioners Gin and a failure of the NSW police commissioner to declare a conflict of interest in respect to its purchase. And the sole NSW police watchdog determined it was appropriate to investigate the matter.

Known as Operation Askern, the inquiry provided the commissioner with a copy of the report on 6 August, and, as it was subject to a nonpublication order, the LECC issued a press release the following day, after Roberts raised the motion, outlining that it had found no serious misconduct on the part of Webb or any officer in regard to the purchase of gin and presentation boxes.

The LECC, however, did determine that Webb “should have disclosed her association with the supplier when she became aware of the purchase of Commissioner’s Gin” and it recommended that all NSW police employees “are regularly reminded of their duty to declare any conflict of interest, including a perceived conflict of interest”.

Confusing her with someone else

After Roberts’ 7 August parliamentary outburst, Webb appeared on 2GB Drive and told Chris O’Keefe that she didn’t drink the gin, and she hadn’t “even tasted” it. She added that the MLC must “have her confused with someone else”.  And the commissioner confirmed that her staff members had neither drunk the gin and she added that she’s “certainly kept a register” of who she’s been giving it to.

Webb further explained that it was a “customary practice when we’ve got dignitaries” coming to the jurisdiction. And on whether the register would be made public, the top cop said it would be captured under the standing order motion. And she added that only 50 bottles had been purchased, not 100, and she’d had distributed 24 to dignitaries, such as international guests and ministers.

“There has been no personal benefit for me in the use of the gin,” she added. And in terms of her knowing the supplier of Hope Estate, she only became aware that she knew them after the purchase had been made. Webb further made clear that she didn’t even make the purchase, as it was a preexisting vendor that former commissioner Mick Fuller, who started the tradition, had been using.

Almost coming clean

Two days after clearing up matters on 2GB in August, Webb released a statement, outlining that a review had found that 32 bottles had been distributed and she went on to reveal that “a second order of 50 bottles was identified” and had since been returned, while the remaining 18 were being given away to Police Legacy for fundraising purposes.

Webb admitted she should have been forthcoming with her association with the Hope family. And at the time, NSW police also released images representing the Commissioners Gin Gift Registry, which don’t name any individuals, but rather reveal that 15 bottles had been distributed to dignitaries during the conference Pearls in Policing, amongst others executives and corporate partners.

Roberts again raised ire over this in the upper house on 15 August, calling out the top cop on initially giving out suspect information during her original 2GB interview two days prior and he questioned why the actual registry list had not been furnished in parliament.

The Daily Telegraph went on to reveal on 22 August that Webb was refusing to name the people she gave the gin to and further, the commissioner had initially failed to reveal to the police minster that not only had NSW police spent $4,250 on 50 bottles of Hope Estate Gin, but a further $6,704 in taxpayer money had been spent on 200 Tasmanian Oak gift boxes.

And the Hope Estate receipt detailing the cost is also dated November 2022, which is nine months after Webb was sworn into the role of NSW police commissioner.

Rolling with the punches

Yet, last week, after initially being refused, the documents Roberts first called for were tabled in parliament and they revealed Webb had gifted a bottle of gin to then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, two bottles went to a PR company DEC, which had previously run an event at a Maserati car dealership where her husband had worked, and a bottle was given to legal firm Gilbert and Tobin.

An email from Webb’s office to Hope Estate dated October 2022, has a staffer stating that the commissioner wanted the “blue labelled gin”, so she could give some of the bottles away that coming Christmas and that was the order that also included the 200 oak gift boxes, which was dated November that year.

Another email before parliament reveals a NSW police staff member outside of Webbs’ office emailing her staffer to question them about whether the purchase of the gin was a wise move, adding that it could be of particular concern if it was ever made public.

In addressing the press in Dubbo last week, Webb explained that gin bottles were given to the PR firm DEC because she’d “engaged them for professional services for some media advice on about three occasions before” the November 2021 announcement that she would be the next commissioner. “So, it was a professional engagement,” she added.

As for the NSW premier, he’s defended the commissioner over the course of the gin saga. “I don’t have evidence that she misled the public,” Chris Minns said, which does sound like he was leaving room for further developments to prove him wrong. “I mean, she’s been public and fully articulated the circumstances around those gifts.”

And as for Roberts, well, he was heard to ask, “If the PR company were used by her in a private capacity why has the taxpayer paid for two bottles of gin to go to them?” And he then remarked that “the question begging to be answered is whether this was a bonus for helping her secure the commissioner’s position”.