House debates Questions without Notice
Oil for Food Program
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
2:48 pm
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. After the AWB and the Iraqi Grain Board agreed in Baghdad in July 1999 to change their contract arrangements to include an extra fee of $12 per metric ton, when did your officials first meet with the AWB after that, whom did they meet and what did they discuss—
Alexander Downer Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
And what are their names and addresses?
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
Prime Minister, you think this is just a joke, do you? You just think this is a joke. We are trying to establish some facts.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Griffith will come to his question or resume his seat.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
This is when this scandal began, Alex; I thought you would be interested. When did your officials first meet with the AWB after that, whom did they meet and what did they discuss about these new contract arrangements with Sadaam’s regime?
Mark Vaile Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade
I thank the member for Griffith for his question. I will have to check the records and check with my departmental officials to see who, if anybody, met with them and when it was discussed and what was discussed.