(Australian FM) Downer memory fails 21 times (AWB kickbacks)

[maddezmom]

Downer memory fails 21 times
Apr 11 18:58
AAP


A hearing room packed to capacity with journalists, lawyers and members of the public on Tuesday heard Foreign Minister Alexander Downer defend his department for not pressing AWB for answers to allegations it paid kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime.

They also heard him say he could not remember the specifics of 21 cables containing warnings over AWB.

Mr Downer made his first appearance at the inquiry - under commissioner Terence Cole - into the $300 million AWB kickbacks scandal on Tuesday amid a heavy security presence.

The inquiry has heard that the federal government received several warnings in diplomatic cables over the past six years that AWB's wheat contracts with Iraq contained irregularities which breached United Nations sanctions.

Mr Downer said on Tuesday he could not personally recall the specifics of any of the 21 cables containing the warnings, but would have expected staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to have investigated them when they were raised.


more;http://afr.com/articles/2006/04/11/1144521328035.html

[xchrom]

1. they must have flown rove in to coach this guy.

[AussieDave]

2. Yet he told Parliament some time ago that he'd read all the cables

These clowns can't even get their story straight.

But the Howard government is a true friend to Shrub - they even have the lying gene programmed ionto them.

Morons.

[saigon68]

3. kick