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Previous Fragment    
Tuesday, 10 May 2005
Page: 386


Mr Rudd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 17 March 2005:

(1)   In respect of copies the Office of National Assessments (ONA) document “Iraq: Humanitarian Consequences” (a) how many did his office (i) request and (ii) receive, and (b) on what dates were they (i) requested and (ii) received.

(2)   Did his office request a copy of the document in the week leading up to 23 June 2003.

(3)   Was a reason provided to ONA when the document was requested ; if so, what was it.

(4)   Were all copies of the document returned to ONA.

(5)   Were any copies made while it was in the possession of his office.

(6)   Were any parts of the document faxed to other persons while it was in the possession of his office.

(7)   Were any of the contents of the document read aloud, or conveyed in any way, by him or by a member of his office to any person who did not have the required national security clearance.

(8)   Did he or any member of his office show the document to any person who did not have the required national security clearance.

(9)   Did any member of his staff have any dealings with journalists in the week leading up to 23 June 2003 in which the document was discussed.

(10)   Did he ask every member of his personal staff whether they were responsible for the apparent verbatim sections of the document appearing in an article in the Herald Sun on 23 June 2003.

(11)   Did any of his staff admit responsibility for passing information appearing in the article “Spoke Misspoke” in the Herald Sun on 23 June 2003 to the journalist who wrote the article.

(12)   Can he guarantee that neither he nor any member of his staff provided details of the content of the document to a person who did not have a national security clearance.

(13)   Can he guarantee that neither he nor any member of his staff have ever provided the contents of any classified documents to persons who did not have the appropriate national security clearances.

(14)   Has his office conducted an internal inquiry into the leaking of information contained in the document; if so, what was the outcome of that inquiry.

(15)   Were any members of his office interviewed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) during its investigation into the leaking of the document.

(16)   How many members of his office were interviewed by the AFP during its investigation into the leaking of the document.

(17)   Were any members of his office interviewed by the AFP more than once during its investigation into the leaking of this document.

(18)   Was he interviewed by the AFP during its investigation into the leaking of the document.


Mr Downer (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —The answer to the honourable member’s questions is as follows:

The matter under question was the subject of an AFP investigation and I have nothing further to add.