Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer the minister to an email from the Australian embassy in Oman to the AWB nine months before the Iraq war, which has just been released by the Cole inquiry. I refer specifically to the embassy’s meeting with Mr Jamal Shareef Hazaa and the embassy’s report of Mr Hazaa’s close connections with senior figures in the Iraqi regime, including with Saddam Hussein himself. I also refer the minister to the embassy’s statement in this email that they would be prepared to arrange an introduction between the AWB and Mr Hazaa, using his direct connections with the Iraqi dictator and his offer to enhance AWB sales to Saddam by ‘working behind the scenes’. Can the minister inform the House whether it was appropriate for the government to be offering matchmaking services between the minister’s close friends in the AWB and Saddam Hussein’s inner circle, or was this seen by the government as ‘business as usual’ in cuddling up to the Iraqi dictator just prior to going to war?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Minister for Foreign Affairs can ignore the last part of that question.

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

All of these issues are being canvassed before the Cole commission, and we look forward to the Cole commission producing its report.

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

Mr Beazley interjecting

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

They have been released by the Cole commission, you halfwit!

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Minister for Foreign Affairs will withdraw that last remark.

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

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.