House debates

Thursday, 30 March 2006

Questions without Notice

Oil for Food Program

2:46 pm

Photo of Kevin RuddKevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his statement of 21 February 2006:

I have given him—

that is, Mr Cole—

my documents. He’s got my file.

Prime Minister, why was it that on that very same day Commissioner Cole had to issue you personally with this subpoena, which stated:

The inquiry has served a notice to produce documents on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. It is understood, however, that documents in your custody or control or in the custody or control of your office or staff are not covered by the notices served on PM&C. I request your assistance in ensuring that relevant documents held by you or your staff are produced to the inquiry.

Prime Minister, why did you say on 21 February that you had already given all these documents and files to Commissioner Cole when, on that very same day, the commissioner subpoenaed you to extract those very same documents?

Comments

No comments