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

My question is to the Minister for Trade. I refer to the minister’s instructions to Australia’s ambassador in Washington in June 2003 to go in at a senior level with the US administration to reject US allegations that the AWB had made corrupt payments to Saddam Hussein’s regime. Will the minister confirm that he instructed the ambassador to reject these allegations as ‘ludicrous, egregious, unacceptable and offensive’ and that this was consistent with AWB’s further written request to the government that same month that ‘the United States should expletive deleted off’?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will come to his question.

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

Given by that time the government had already received 20 separate warnings about AWB payments to Saddam Hussein’s regime—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will come to his question.

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

on what basis did the minister instruct our ambassador to mislead our key strategic ally and cover up the AWB’s dealings with Iraq?

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In response to the member’s question, all we ever expect of our ambassadors overseas is to ensure that Australian companies get fair treatment in these circumstances.

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So it’s okay to tell lies then?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Wills will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Wills then left the chamber.