Senator ROBERT RAY (2:48 PM) —My question is directed to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Justice and Customs. Can the minister confirm that the Prime Minister referred the Reith telecard issue to the AFP following advice from the Attorney-General, Mr Williams? Did Mr Williams advise the Prime Minister to say at his press conference this morning in answer to a question on whether this matter constituted defrauding the Commonwealth, `I don't believe it is'? Is it not up to the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether there is a case for fraud, and not the Prime Minister? Is it really appropriate for the Prime Minister to be commenting publicly when the matter is apparently still before the DPP?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Justice and Customs) —I thank Senator Ray for the question. I do not have any knowledge, direct or indirect, as to what advice Mr Howard may have sought from the Attorney-General in relation to this matter. I will take that question on notice and see what the Attorney wants to tell you with respect to that. In relation to what comments have been made this morning, I have not seen what comments have been made. I will have a look and if I have anything to say about it I will come back to you.

I might add that it would be helpful if people such as yourself, Senator Ray—who, I believe, understands these matters—would advise some of your colleagues to be careful about what they say in relation to operational matters. It has not been a practice over the last couple of weeks for some of your colleagues, Senator Ray, to exercise that care. They have made mistakes. I believe there have been occasions when I think one could say that the parliament has been misled. I will not say that that is necessarily intentional, but people often get their blood up, their temper up, and they say something without all the facts. If you would assist by encouraging your colleagues to recognise the matters that you raise, Senator Ray, it would be particularly helpful.

Senator ROBERT RAY —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for her suggestion—I will take that up. Minister, have you made yourself aware of how these issues were raised at estimates, and can you confirm that no operational matter was prejudiced there by the general questioning? Secondly, whilst I am taking up matters with colleagues, will the minister take up with Mr Reith the fact that on AM this morning and on the front page of the Canberra Times he raised operational matters to do with this case? Will the minister also take up with the Prime Minister the fact that he commented on whether this matter constituted a fraud or not and whether he was the one who referred it to the Federal Police? Minister, will you also advise the Prime Minister and Mr Reith to be careful in future?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Justice and Customs) —I will have a look at what comments were made this morning and see whether there is anything that I want to come back to you about.