That the practitioner Alan James Camp, was on a date not presently known in or about 1997, guilty of unprofessional conduct in that he offered to divulge to certain media outlets for an undisclosed fee, confidential information relating to Mr Langley George Hancock and/or Mrs Gina Rinehart and/or Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, which information the practitioner had acquired whilst employed by Mr Hancock or Mrs Rinehart or Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, without first obtaining their authority or consent.
There were particulars given of that reference and it is relevant to note them now. Those particulars were:
(1) The practitioner was employed by Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd or Mrs Rinehart during the period from, in or about 1992 to 1996.
(2) The practitioner's duties included inter alia providing legal advice on various matters raised with him by Mr Hancock before his death on 27 March 1992 and thereafter by Mrs Rinehart or other officers of Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.
(3) In the course of his employment the practitioner acquired confidential information regarding Mr Hancock, Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd including information relating to various matters, including but not limited to, legal proceedings then on foot between Mrs Rinehart or Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd on the one hand and Mrs Rose Porteous or interests associated with her on the other.
(4) On dates presently unknown in or about 1997 the practitioner spoke to representatives of Channel 7 and Channel 9.
(5) During the above discussions the practitioner offered to divulge information of a confidential nature regarding Mr Hancock, Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd to Channel 7 and Channel 9 in return for an undisclosed fee.
(6) The practitioner spoke to representatives of Channel 7 and Channel 9 without first obtaining the authority or consent of Mr Hancock before his death and or Mrs Rinehart and or Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.