Coroner Gordon Matenga
has shown no concern for the feelings of the family of the late
Corporal Dougie Hughes, says Opposition Defence spokesperson Phil
Goff.
Goff was one of a group of MPs who asked the Solicitor
General to open up the findings of Matenga and the Defence Force
after Hughes, a gay soldier, took his own life after being made to
out himself to another soldier in Afghanistan last April. The
Solicitor General has declined the request.
"My concern
is the ultimate effect of the coroner's decision was to stop public
debate and government accountability about what was in the Court of
Inquiry decisions. The coroner has effectively given cover to the
Government to say nothing, and perhaps do nothing," Goff has
told the Sunday Star Times.
"I would have thought first
and foremost you look to the feelings of the relatives and obviously
the coroner didn't bother about that because he took an action which
was against the wishes of the family - which was to suppress the
Court of Inquiry."
Goff says he will now take the matter
to the Chief Coroner.
Hughes mother is reported as saying
that she too wants to take the matter further.
