defenderoftruth: Attempting to mislead a Royal Commission is a criminal offense. If charged and convicted.. could face a fine of up to $20,000 and up to five years in prison.
Can anyone confirm that the above quote is true?
It is a true statement.
The RC into Child Abuse in Australia is not the only Royal Commission that is currently being held in Australia. There is also a RC into Trade Unions and Governance being conducted. And, in that RC, a witness has been charged with perjury:
Unions royal commission: witness charged with perjury
*to add - try this link if that one doesn't work:
Tuungafasi Manase charged with perjury
A witness at the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption has been arrested in Canberra, and charged with perjury.
Tuungafasi Manase, who works as a formworker in Canberra, was arrested by ACT Police tonight and charged with giving false or misleading evidence to the commission.
It’s the third arrest with criminal charges arising from the proceedings in Canberra in as many weeks, and the first for perjury flowing from the commission.
.........Commissioner Dyson Heydon warned Mr Manase about perjury. “Your duty is not intentionally to give false or misleading evidence...” the Commissioner said.
“If you were to break that duty it would be an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for five years or a fine not exceeding $20,000. You understand that?"