Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s comments on 28 February that Mr Cole has:

... made it very clear that he has all the power ... to make findings of fact about the behaviour of anybody, including the Commonwealth ...

I also refer the Prime Minister to the commissioner’s statement on 3 February when he said:

The present terms of reference ... do not permit me to make findings of illegality against the Commonwealth or any of its officers.

Why has the Prime Minister, in his public comments, completely misrepresented Commissioner Cole? Will the Prime Minister now expand the commissioner’s terms of reference and give him the power to make findings about the behaviour of anybody, including government ministers?

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