New South Wales' Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sally Dowling SC, has been accused of authorising the leak of sensitive information to the media, which significantly impacted a District Court judge, according to a parliamentary committee report tabled on July 7, 2026. The report also states that Dowling falsely denied authorising the leak during an inquiry into her conduct.

The leak involved details broadcast on Ben Fordham's breakfast show in October 2024, where Fordham said District Court Judge Penelope Wass SC "had a shocker" and commented it was "appropriate to have the offender welcome her to her own court." The leak was criticised for breaching Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) guidelines, as it included the offender's name, which is legally protected from identification.

The inquiry, initially called to examine protections for children's identities in court, focused primarily on Dowling and her dispute with Judge Wass. The committee report recommends that Attorney-General Michael Daley establish a further inquiry to determine whether there are grounds to remove Dowling from office.

The report highlights concerns that a sustained public dispute between District Court judges and the head of a prosecuting authority harms the administration of justice and risks undermining public confidence in the courts. Some Labor members dissented, refusing to accept the adverse findings against Dowling.

Dowling has consistently denied authorising the leak from her office.

Sources