News item title
Rudd Labor Government playing politics with national security

Thu, 13th March 2008

Rudd Labor Government playing politics with national security

The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Shadow Minister for Justice & Border Protection
Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration & Citizenship

“In their attempt to traduce the previous Government, the Rudd Labor Government has ‘jumped the gun’ by announcing a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the detention of Dr Mohamed Haneef to be headed by former NSW Supreme Court Judge, John Clarke QC”, Christopher Pyne, the Shadow Spokesperson for Justice and Customs said today.

“As the Shadow Attorney General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC said today, this inquiry is premature while the Australian Federal Police are continuing to investigate this matter.

“If there was such an inquiry to be conducted then it should be carried out by the appropriate agency, The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

“Instead, the Government is signalling their intention to use the inquiry to attack the former Government and in the process they could potentially breach national security.

“Labor is already showing what a stunt this is – they announced it by selective leak to ensure it received front page coverage.

“Kevin Rudd’s desperation to score political points might well expose our flank to terrorists if the highly sensitive investigative and intelligence gathering methods of the AFP and other intelligence agencies are made public. Who knows what current investigations might be compromised?

“The Opposition opposes this judicial inquiry into the Haneef case – in the event that such an investigation is warranted in the future, it should be conducted when the current investigation is no longer ongoing and be done by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement.”

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