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. It relates to the $300 million kickback that his ministry and he turned a blind eye to and its relationship to terrorism. Given Australia’s anti-terrorist-financing laws, has the foreign minister asked the governments of Israel and Jordan to investigate whether the money paid by AWB into Saddam Hussein’s bank account at the Rafidain Bank in Amman was used by the Iraqi dictator to pay the families of Palestinian suicide bombers?

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

I will tell the House one thing—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister will be heard.

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

From March 2003, Saddam Hussein was not paying any money into any account anywhere. Saddam Hussein was overthrown and there was no risk after March 2003 of Saddam Hussein funding terrorists.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The opposition wants to know if money that this government allowed—

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

If the Leader of the Opposition is raising a point of order, he will come to his point of order.

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

to go across to Saddam Hussein was paid to the family of suicide bombers.

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

If the Leader of the Opposition wishes to raise a point of order, he will come to his point of order.

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

Since March 2003, Saddam Hussein has paid no money to terrorists, and he has not paid money to terrorists—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about before that?

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

Order! The member for Lalor!

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

because Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown and, subsequently, towards the end of 2003, he was arrested.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order that goes to relevance. The question asked whether the minister had asked two governments to investigate.

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

The minister is answering the substance of the question.

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

I do not need to ask any government whether getting rid of Saddam Hussein stopped Saddam Hussein funding terrorism, because it did. But I do know that if the Leader of the Opposition’s policy had remained in place Saddam Hussein would still be funding terrorism, and you would have that on your conscience.

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wilkie interjecting

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

Order! The member for Swan is warned!

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members are holding up their own question time.