Vic: Nixon at hairdresser's on Black Saturday, but won't quit

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
Vic: Nixon at hairdresser's on Black Saturday, but won't quit

Eds: Note language in 17th par



By Greg Roberts

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - Former Victorian police chief Christine Nixon has revealed
she had a haircut and met with her biographer while the Black Saturday bushfire disaster
unfolded last year.

Ms Nixon called an urgent news conference at 6pm (AEST) on Friday, sparking speculation
she would announce she was quitting as head of the bushfire reconstruction authority.

But she remained defiant on Friday, saying she never considered quitting her reconstruction
role and she defended her movements on the day 173 people died in Australia's worst bushfires.

Friday's revelations about her private appointments on Black Saturday follow more than
a week of intense criticism after she revealed that, as chief commissioner, she left the
fire control centre to have a pub dinner that night.

When asked about quitting she told reporters on Friday: "No I haven't. I have decided
that by listening to a range of people about the work that still needs to be done.

"I have had very much the strong support of many, many people affected by these bushfires
- including people who lost their lives.

"Many people who have made contact with me last week asked me to stay and be with them
until the end."

Ms Nixon escaped the Melbourne media by staying in Sydney with her mother and father
- a former high ranking NSW police officer - before calling Friday night's conference.

Her husband John Becquet supported her at the conference as she revealed more details
of her movements on Black Saturday.

"On the morning of February 7 at 9.30am I had a haircut, it was a recurring appointment,
one I could have cancelled, I believe I could carry out my duties as well," she told reporters.

"I also had a private appointment (that afternoon) ... to meet with a person who had
been working with me on my biography.

"In hindsight I would have done things differently ... particularly I would have stayed
at the (state emergency) centre that night."

Ms Nixon said whatever she did that day would not have changed the ultimate tragic outcome.

"What I did on that day as chief commissioner will be judged ultimately by the royal
commission, they are the ones who will hear all the evidence and make a decision when
they report about whether or not my behaviours on that day were appropriate," she told
reporters.

"Some people are continuing to pursue the nature of those personal appointments (on
Black Saturday)."

Federal Victorian Labor backbencher Steve Gibbons explosively defended Ms Nixon on
his Twitter account on Friday night with a dig at the media.

"Nixon hasn't resigned. Now you F...wits in the media must realise that you don't set
or control the agenda. Despite your bullshit!" the member for Bendigo said.

MORE gr/pmu/apm

KEYWORD: NIXON WRAP

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.