Defence Security: Mr Merv Jenkins

On 4 December 2000 Senator West asked me as Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs:

In relation to the report by Mr Tony Blunn into the death of Mr Merv Jenkins, the DIO liaison officer? in Washington, what action is the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade taking to investigate Mr Blunn's finding that key evidence was missing, including letters, tapes and electronic copies of correspondence, from the Defence Intelligence Organisation?

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer:

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can account for all the information it gathered as part of the investigation into the alleged security breaches by Mr Mervyn Jenkins.

Any questions regarding the missing documents from DIO should be directed to the Minister for Defence.

Also on 4 December 2000 Senator West asked me as Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs:

Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I am surprised that, considering this was in the media last Friday, the minister has not got an answer for at least some of this. I also ask: what action is the department taking or planning to take in response to the finding of the Blunn inquiry that the conduct of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the investigation into Mr Jenkins's handling of intelligence material was counterproductive and contributed to Mr Jenkins's suicide?

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer:

The key findings of the Blunn Report are that the allegations made against Mr Jenkins in May 1999 were serious and warranted investigation, that the decision to investigate the allegations was timely and appropriate, and that there was nothing improper or contrary to Commonwealth procedures in the processes used by the investigators.

The investigation was conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Fraud Investigation Standards Package. These standards have been adopted by the Government as the "best practice" model for conducting investigations into serious allegations. These procedures are routinely used in departmental investigations.