Senator MINCHIN —My question is directed to the Minister representing the Attorney-General. I refer the minister to the withdrawal of charges in the most recent war crimes trial in Adelaide, which is now the third trial in South Australia to have been abandoned or dismissed. Can the minister confirm that the total cost to the taxpayers of these three war crimes trials was $27.5 million? Is that amount consistent with the amount budgeted for these trials? What further expenditure is expected to be incurred? Can the minister indicate whether there will be any further prosecutions of South Australians for European war crimes?

Senator BOLKUS —I do have some information in respect of the costs of the investigations and prosecutions. I am informed that a special investigations unit was established in May 1987 to investigate alleged war criminals. It ceased to operate on 30 June 1992. The funding of its operations over that almost five-year period totalled some $11,497,575. After its closure, some of its key personnel formed the war crimes prosecution support unit. That unit's costs from its establishment on 1 July 1992 to 30 June 1993 were $2,223,275.60. The costs of this financial year's operations are not yet known.

  A team of investigators, including the director of the unit, was in the Ukraine collecting evidence when the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi in the Wagner prosecution. The involvement of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions commenced in the 1989-90 financial year and the costs of that office to the present time are $6,749,860. The best available figure for legal aid costs for the same period is some $4 1/2 million. The total costs at present, I am informed, are approximately $29 million.

  I should add that, because of the mode of operation of the special investigations unit and the defence, where the same legal team represented all three defendants, it has not been possible to provide separate costings for each defendant in the prosecution under the War Crimes Act. But it can be said that the total expenditure on each defendant by the office of the DPP has been: Polyukhovich, $3.6 million; Berezowski, $1.16 million; and Wagner, close to $2 million. If there is any further information that Senator Minchin has asked for that I have not given, I will undertake to present it to him.

Senator Crichton-Browne —Mr President, I raise a point of order. I ask that Senator Bolkus table the document from which he just read—or is he hiding behind the cowardice of not having the courage?

The PRESIDENT —Whether or not the minister tables the document is a matter for him.