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
2:58 pm
My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer to his answer to my previous question. He said that it was a matter for Commissioner Cole to request any expansion in his terms of reference in relation to ministers’ actions in this $300 million wheat for weapons scandal. Is the Prime Minister aware of a letter from Commissioner Cole to me in March this year which states—
Alexander Downer Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr Downer interjecting
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
It goes directly to the misleading statement just made by the Prime Minister.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
Would it—
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
This is from Commissioner Cole—
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
We know you do not want to hear it.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
Is the Prime Minister aware of the contents of this letter from the Cole commission of inquiry, which says:
... it would not be appropriate for a commissioner to seek amendment of the terms of reference to address a matter significantly different to that in the existing terms of reference ... that the commissioner should seek amendments to the terms of reference to enable him to determine whether Australia has breached its international obligations, or a Minister has breached obligations imposed upon him by Australian regulations falls ... within the latter category.
Prime Minister, in your reply just now to my previous question, haven’t you once again just deliberately misled the parliament in order to—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Griffith will either rephrase that or resume his seat.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
Prime Minister—
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
I withdraw that. Has the Prime Minister once again misled the parliament in his response to the previous question to conceal the rorted terms of reference he has given Commissioner Cole to give his two ministers there a ‘get out of jail free’ card?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I am aware of the letter that was sent by Commissioner Cole to the member for Griffith. I remember it very vividly, and I know the subject matter of it. The subject matter of that letter does not alter in any way the substance of the answer I gave to his earlier question.