Senator WATSON (10:37 AM) —It is with some regret that I observe that this inquiry was established as a purely cynical, point-scoring exercise against the Australian government without regard to the potential damage to the close relationship between the people of Turkey and Australia. Attacks on roads of this nature are essentially attacks on roads constructed ahead of advice as to the extent of those changes and notification to Australia. I say it is with some sadness because it has the potential to open up a rift between our two great nations, and I think that is indeed regrettable. It is so regrettable in fact that my colleague Senator Fierravanti-Wells and I felt compelled to write a minority report showing that the Australian government has at all times acted appropriately, correctly and in a timely fashion.

The majority report failed to properly and correctly reflect the overwhelming bulk of the written and oral evidence given to the committee. Instead, what did it do? It relied on the conflicting advice of one Mr Sellars, advice that was beyond his area of expertise. It was often baseless and invariably at odds with the evidence which was given by the more expert persons. Mr Sellars is a self-styled historian, a journalist who conceded that he has no formal qualifications in history or archaeology. He was the source of the media allegations relating to the discovery of the human remains and the bones during roadworks undertaken by the Turkish authorities. This so-called knowledgeable man did not even act appropriately, if he discovered the bones, where he discovered the bones. If he were an expert he would have known how to handle that issue. He did not even follow the protocols and the signs about bathing in the cove on the peninsula, which he said he did and where he made some of his observations. Bathing is banned in that area. What an unreliable witness!

At all times this has been a very sensitive and important area to both Turkey and Australia. The Australian government has always appreciated the role of the Turkish authorities in maintaining the Anzac sites and enabling the organisation of an annual commemoration service on Anzac Day on this Gallipoli Peninsula. That evidence came from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I stress that, while it is always open to the Turkish government to seek Australia’s views in relation to the wider Gallipoli Peninsula, at the end of the day it is a matter entirely for the Turkish authorities either to accept our views or to reject them. So far there has been happy support. The fundamental starting point is the recognition that at all times the Gallipoli Peninsula is situated in Turkey. Yes, there are some protocols, the War Graves Commission, the Lucerne convention and all those sorts of things, but at the end of the day Turkey’s sovereignty does prevail and we have to respect that. So far the two governments have acted in unison to recognise and honour the whole site because the whole site has been a battleground.

Construction changes and alterations to the areas essentially come within the responsibility of Turkey, not Australia. But as a result of negotiations between the heads of government of the two countries there is a lot more discussion. Australia is having greater input in terms of the expertise that we are going to offer, and that is good. My colleague Senator Fierravanti-Wells will put a recommendation that is going to be very constructive in overcoming the sorts of difficulties that the likes of Mr Sellars has raised.

Unfortunately, this Mr Sellars makes serial appearances around Anzac Day and, tellingly, he conceded in evidence that he has financially benefited from his sensational media allegations. The majority report regrettably has been deliberately and knowingly written on the misconceived notion that the Australian government is somehow responsible for what happened initially. Yes, we did go into damage control, because that was important—we all recognise that. We brought in experts and the manner in which the works were completed was pretty significant. I say that because there are very few references in that majority report—not the committee report—made to Turkish sovereignty and those references are really concealed in fleeting passages. Regrettably, my time has almost expired but I must pay tribute to my colleague Senator Fierravanti-Wells. She made an extraordinary and painstaking effort in her writing of and assistance with this minority report.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator Lightfoot)—On the agreed speakers’ list I have Senator Bartlett. I understand that a limitation of time has been accepted and I ask the Clerk to set the clock accordingly.