Former prosecutor to investigate Golden Guitar bungle

In a follow up to a story we reported last week, The Country Music Association of Australia has described the appointment of Ian Burkinshaw to its inquiry into a bungled award presentation as “a right step forward”.

Tamworth-based Mr Burkinshaw a former police prosecutor for 34 years now lives in Tamworth and is part of Tamworth Regional Council’s Ethics Committee.

His appointment comes a week after Lee Kernaghan was mistakenly given the Best Album award at the Country Music Awards, instead of Graeme Connors.

Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia, Rod Laing says Mr Burkinshaw is looking forward to the role.

“He’s not treating it as a major problem, he has dealt with in the past criminal offences and that type of thing, and this is not what we are looking at here of course.” said Mr Laing

The investigation will begin late next week, the terms of reference have yet to be set down, but Rod Laing says it will look at how the error happened and why it wasn’t corrected on the night.

“The [CMAA] Board is asking those questions, as are our members, artists and fans,” he says.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/