Fed: Democrats to push for Tampa spy allegations inquiry
CANBERRA, Feb 14 AAP - The Australian Democrats will continue to push for the InspectorGeneral of Intelligence to investigate allegations of phone tapping aboard MV Tampa.
The Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) is alleged to have breached its rules by providingthe government with transcripts of conversations aboard the Norwegian ship during theasylum seeker crisis last year.
The ship rescued hundreds of asylum seekers from a sinking boat near Christmas Islandin August last year, and was later turned away from Australian waters by the government.
Democrats justice spokesman Brian Greig today said the Senate, not Defence MinisterRobert Hill, should commission the inquiry.
"Revelations yesterday that previous defence minister Mr Peter Reith was wrong to claimthat children were being thrown overboard from the Tampa have further eroded public confidencein information shared between departments and ministers," Senator Greig said in a statement.
"The Democrats have faith in (Inspector General of Intelligence Bill) Mr Blick to producean objective report, but believe that such a report would be better commissioned by theSenate rather than the minister.
"Only an inquiry which is fully accountable to the Senate, rather than a minister,will enjoy public confidence and parliamentary scrutiny."
AAP lm/mjm
KEYWORD: SPY DEMOCRATS
No comments:
Post a Comment