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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and it relates to a matter that is not being considered by the Cole royal commission. I refer to reports in the United States congress that money illegally obtained by Saddam Hussein from the oil for food program was used to fund the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Minister, given that AWB was the single largest user of the oil for food program, will you launch an investigation into how the $300 million in kickbacks from AWB to Iraq was used? Furthermore, given the impact on the security of the state of Israel, not to mention Australians in Israel, has the foreign minister raised this matter with the state of Israel or the relevant intelligence agencies in order to determine whether any of the $300 million went to pay Palestinian suicide bombers?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the question, and the reason I appreciate the question is that I have wanted to make a couple of points about this. The first is that there is no evidence that money paid by AWB Ltd to Alia, which we now believe went to the Iraqis, was subsequently paid to Palestinian suicide bombers. The second point I want to make is that it is true—

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How do you know that?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How do I know there is no evidence?

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, how do you know that?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, you genius, you! Mr Speaker, they are so brainy! The second serious point I make is this: I have said at this dispatch box over the years that Saddam Hussein did provide financial support to Palestinian suicide bombers. But from March 2003 he has paid no money to Palestinian suicide bombers. He cannot, because we got rid of him. Whereas if the Labor Party and the Leader of the Opposition had maintained their policy he would still be financing Palestinian suicide bombers. Go and tell that to the Israelis!

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

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.