SA: Beazley says latest on AWB 'pretty spectacular'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
SA: Beazley says latest on AWB 'pretty spectacular'

ADELAIDE, Aug 30 AAP - Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has described as "pretty spectacular"

reports the Cole inquiry has been given proof that the federal government was warned of
AWB's involvement in the oil-for-food scandal.

The Australian newspaper said the Cole inquiry has been given nine pages of handwritten
notes by a senior foreign affairs official that prove the Howard government was warned
of the scandal two years ago.

However, AAP has confirmed the documents are old and were tendered to the inquiry on April 27.

The notes, by veteran Australian diplomat John Quinn, mention such terms as "AWB Ltd",
"service fees", "10 per cent" and "exposure" in the context of the impending investigation
into kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime.

In Adelaide today, Mr Beazley said the revelations were further evidence of the government's
lies in relation to AWB.

"The only reason that (Foreign Minister) Alexander Downer has not been sacked for gross
incompetence must be that (Prime Minister) John Howard knows his fingerprints are there
as well," Mr Beazley said.

"The lies this government tells, they lie to the Australian people about what their
intentions are on things like industrial relations, what they intend to do about interest
rates.

"They lie to the Australian people all the time and they lied about AWB.

"Every day in the Cole inquiry more government fingerprints are turned up and yesterday
was pretty spectacular."

A range of government officials and ministers, up to and including Mr Downer, have
insisted under oath they either didn't see, of felt compelled to ignore, the many warnings
about AWB because the allegations were made by rival wheat sellers.

Mr Downer said today the report was a massive beatup.

"This is absolutely nothing new. This is material that's been given to the Cole inquiry
by the government," he told ABC radio.

AAP tjd/cjh/jlw

KEYWORD: AWB BEAZLEY

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