Mr BEAZLEY (Leader of the Opposition) (2:00 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister detail the latest information regarding yesterday’s shameful act against the Indonesian embassy in Canberra? Can the Prime Minister inform the House as to the welfare of the Indonesian embassy staff? Does the Prime Minister have concerns about the possibility of retaliatory threats against Australian diplomats abroad? If so, will the government be implementing additional security measures to maximise their protection?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —As I think the honourable member will be aware, the preliminary results of the analysis of the substance indicate that, in all probability, it is not toxic. I think the basic circumstances are well known. I have been briefed on the broad substance of the note which accompanied the material. For police investigation reasons I am not at liberty to disclose what that substance is, although I would be willing to privately inform the Leader of the Opposition of what I have been told. Also, I extend to him and to the member for Barton, who has the portfolio responsibility in this area for the opposition, the facility of any briefing that they would like to have.

As far as additional security measures are concerned, in the light of this incident the government is reviewing those and, if any further measures are needed, they will be implemented. Insofar as the welfare of the staff is concerned, it is my advice that none of them has reported ill at present and that, after the decontamination process last night, they were allowed to go home. Insofar as possible retaliatory action in Indonesia is concerned, there is always a danger of that. Just as we cannot guarantee that a random act of stupidity with an evil intent from amongst our 20 million people will not occur, equally I cannot expect a guarantee from the Indonesian government that some evil act of retaliation will not occur in that country. I can only repeat—and I think I speak for all Australians—that this was a reckless, evil act.

Whether the substance ultimately is concluded to be harmless or not, the intimidatory effect, the damage it has done to the perceptions of this country in the eyes of people in Indonesia and the understandable fear it instilled in the staff at the embassy and all that that connotes for our relationship are to be totally deplored. I can only say again—and I echo the views that I heard the honourable gentleman himself express this morning—that those responsible for this act should be pursued and prosecuted with the full rigour of the law. It is something that is quite unacceptable in our country. Insofar as it may have been related to other matters, in that context my great concern is that it has been utterly counterproductive.