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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer the minister to reports that in 2001 BP realised it had not complied with the customs regulations concerning the Poul Spirit oil shipment from Iraq and contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs asking for formal retrospective approval, which it never received—a fact which has been covered up. Minister, who handled the request for retrospective approval, and when was this request first made known to you?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, let me say that this is a matter that is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police. Secondly, the advice I have had from the Australian Federal Police—not of course the advice I have had from the Australian Labor Party—is that to engage in discussions about it is to compromise the investigation. I do not propose to do it.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.