In February 1974, an inmate threw a petrol bomb into the prison chapel, sparking a riot. Officers responded with gunfire and, having regained control of the prison, proceeded to inflict retaliatory beatings on the inmates. More than 50 inmates were injured during the riot and its aftermath, and one was paralysed by a bullet lodged in his spine. In his report, Nagle noted that the Superintendent at Bathurst had also led reprisal beatings against protesting prisoners in 1970. The Department had been aware of the assaults at the time, but had determined that there was insufficient evidence to discipline any individual officer. Like every one of his counterparts, the Superintendent had also failed to act on a Departmental requirement that all prisons have a plan in place for dealing with riots. Following the second Bathurst riot, the Liberal Premier, Sir Robert Askin, promised an inquiry – but this was deferred pending the outcome of criminal charges against the rioters. On 31 March 1976, Askin's successor, Eric Willis established the promised royal commission, with Supreme Court justice John Flood Nagle presiding. Former Macquarie University vice-chancellor Alexander Mitchell and University of New South Wales academic Sydney Derwent were appointed as members of the Commission, with Cambridge criminologist Sir Leon Radzinowicz serving as a consultant. The commissioners were directed to "inquire into and report upon the general working of the Department of Corrective Services of New South Wales, its policies, facilities and practices in the light of contemporary penal practice and knowledge of crime and its causes." They were asked to specifically consider the relationship between staff and prisoners, as well as the selection and training of prison officers, and to provide recommendations for legislative change. The commissioners initiated preliminary hearings two weeks later. The Liberals lost power in May 1976, and the new Labor government of Neville Wran sought to put its ideological stamp on the Commission. Although Wran did not amend the terms of reference, Mitchell and Derwent were demoted to consultant roles, and Radzinowicz – considered too conservative – was sacked. Nagle continued on as sole commissioner. The Liberal Opposition accused Wran of trying to nobble the inquiry; prisoners' advocates saw it as cost-cutting. Nagle sought written submissions from the Department; the prison officers' union, the Public Service Association (PSA); current and former inmates; and members of the public. Hearings were conducted in an adversarial manner, with Counsel Assisting the Commission, David Hunt, examining Departmental staff, current and former inmates, and other witnesses. Both the Department and , were represented by counsel at the Commission's hearings.