Senator BLACK —Can the Special Minister of State confirm media reports of today that Mr Michael Gore has been charged with a number of offences arising from investigations by the Australian Federal Police?

Senator TATE —I will confine my answer to the information contained in a Press release issued by the Australian Federal Police, which states:

Queensland property developer, Mr Michael Graham Gore, of Southport, today appeared in the Southport Magistrate Court on charges over the alleged misrepresentations over sales tax returns.

Australian Federal Police officers early this morning questioned Mr Gore at his home. At about 8 a.m. he accompanied them to the local Southport Police station where he was further questioned. He then accompanied the AFP officers at 11 a.m. to the Southport Magistrate's court where he appeared before Magistrate O'Connor.

He was charged with seventeen counts of attempting to defraud the Commonwealth and of allegedly making seventeen false representations to the Commonwealth with a view to obtaining a benefit. The charges are under the Commonwealth Crimes Act.

It is alleged that the offences relate to the importation from Hong Kong of a number of luxury yachts between 1982 and 1984 for sale in Australia. It is alleged that he made an underpayment of sales tax in excess of $300,000 while he was a director and public officer of Stirling Investments Corporation Pty Ltd.

He was released on bail of $50,000 or two sureties of $25,000 each; that he surrender his passport to the Director of Public Prosecutions office in Brisbane; that he not travel overseas without permission; and that he undertake certain restrictions over the disposal of business assets.

The charges and arrest follow a lengthy investigation by the Australian Federal Police.

That investigation, undertaken in Brisbane, has involved working in co-operation with the Director of Public Prosecutions Office in Brisbane, the Australian Taxation Office and the appropriate authorities in Hong Kong. It would not be appropriate to say more in view of the fact that charges remain to be proved.