THE State of Emergency Review Tribunal has pushed back against what it says are “misinformed” public statements and media reports accusing it of delaying or concealing decisions on the detention of people held under Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs).

In a statement issued yesterday, the tribunal said it was “regrettable” that some of the criticism had come from members of the legal profession, adding that “one would expect responsible utterances informed by the facts and the law”.

Several attorneys representing detainees have in recent weeks claimed that the tribunal has failed to issue or disclose decisions on whether their clients will continue to be held. Some defence lawyers have accused the tribunal of operating in secrecy and breaching the principles of fairness.