John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It is the so-called Canadian cable. It is based upon complaints originally made by the Canadians. The Canadians, be it remembered by this parliament, are competitors against Australia for Iraq’s wheat imports. Sometimes I think some of these characters, instead of being members with particular electorates, are the senior senator from Manitoba or Iowa rather than being concerned about the representations of the Australian wheat industry.

Let me go to the substance of the allegations that were raised in this cable. I point out that on 13 January the reporting cable clearly shows that the United Nations mission—that is, the Australian Mission in the United Nations—referred the matter back to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for advice as soon as the Canadian initiated complaint had been raised with the United Nations. I am advised that DFAT contacted AWB Ltd, who categorically denied the allegations.

See this speech in context