(1)   Further to the Minister’s reply to Part (2) (a) of question No. 3822 (Hansard, 30 October 2006, page 126), what are the full details of the incident concerning the corrupt behaviour, involving narcotics, of a baggage-handler at Sydney International Airport, including (a) the date, (b) a full description of the corrupt behaviour and (c) a full description of the circumstances leading to the discovery of the corrupt behaviour.

(2)   Can the Minister advise the grade and quantity of narcotics concerned in the baggage-handler’s corrupt behaviour.

(3)   Is the Minister able to say how long the baggage handler was engaged in corrupt conduct before a discovery was made and action taken; if so, what are the full details; if not, why not.

(4)   Can the Minister be certain that the corrupt baggage-handler did not have access to the baggage make-up area in Sydney International Airport where CCTV cameras were discovered to be pointing in the wrong direction or out of focus; if so, why; if not, why not.

(5)   Did (a) an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer, (b) an Australian Customs Service (Customs) officer or (c) some other person first suspect, or become aware, that a baggage-handler was engaged in corrupt behaviour, and when was this discovery made; if the discovery was made by a person other than a Customs or an AFP officer, what was the occupation of that person.

(6)   Can the Minister provide details of the officer, or other person, who observed or suspected the baggage-handler’s corrupt conduct, including details of (a) any written report, (b) any oral report, (c) to whom each report was made, (d) the date of each report and (e) the action taken by the recipient(s) of each report, including the date on which the action was taken; if not, why not.

(7)   Have inquiries been undertaken by (a) the AFP, (b) any government department, (c) Sydney Airport Corporation Limited or (d) any other organisation to (i) establish whether the baggage-handler had acted in unison with other individuals, (ii) ascertain whether there have been other incidents or allegations of corrupt or irregular behaviour by employees of any organisation, the workplace of which is located at Sydney International Airport, within those premises and (iii) establish preventative measures to avert future occurrences of corrupt or irregular conduct involving narcotics at Sydney International Airport; if so, what were the findings, conclusions and recommendations of each inquiry; if no inquiries have been conducted, why not.

(8)   Can the Minister provide full details of the court or disciplinary proceedings dealing with the corrupt conduct, involving narcotics, of the baggage-handler at Sydney International Airport, including (a) the court or tribunal in which proceedings were conducted, (b) the conclusions and orders of the court or tribunal and (c) whether an appeal has been brought against any of these decisions and if so, the details of the appeal; if not, why not.

(1) (a)   A joint investigation commenced involving the AFP, the NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) on 17 December 2004.

(b)   Upon arrival at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport, (SKSA) luggage containing narcotics was diverted by a baggage handler prior to an Australian Customs Service examination.  The narcotics were then supplied to members of the syndicate.

(c)   The corrupt behaviour was identified during the course of the investigation.  As this matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

(2)   The seven kgs of cocaine seized from the October 2004 importation was tested by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) and the average purity level was 65%.  Cocaine is not graded by the NMI.

(3)   No

(4)   The investigation has no information regarding this question.

(5)  

(a)   No.

(b)   No.

(c)   The corrupt behaviour was discovered when a human source approached the NSWCC in December 2004 and provided details of the methods used by the syndicate to import drugs through the airport.  The human source was told this information sometime after June 2004.  Human source information will not be disclosed.

(6)   No specific target was identified at SKSA by the AFP prior to the resolution of the operation in May 2005.  Inquiries are continuing and it would not be appropriate to comment on a current investigation.

(7) (a)   Yes.

(b)   I cannot comment if other government departments made enquiries.

(c)   I cannot comment if the Sydney Airport Corporation Limited made enquires.

(d)   I cannot comment if any other organisations made enquiries.

(i)   Evidence will likely be presented in court that persons had contact at SKSA.  They may have been Qantas baggage handlers or other staff and they are not specifically identified in the brief of evidence.  As this matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment any further. 

(ii)   I am unable to provide that information.

(iii)   I am unable to provide that information.

(8)  

(a)   No.  Due to the secrecy provision relating to the disclosure of NSWCC information, I am not in a position to comment on hearings or even confirm if any were held.  It would be more appropriate for this question to be referred to the NSWCC for comment.

(b)   No.

(c)   No.