Fed: Raft of reports highlights need for commission, says Latham

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2004
Fed: Raft of reports highlights need for commission, says Latham

By Holly Nott

KARRATHA, WA, April 15 AAP - Labor Leader Mark Latham has said the proliferation of
reports that have surfaced since Lieutenant Colonel Lance Collins' criticisms of Australia's
intelligence services highlights the need for a Royal Commission.

After Lt Col Collins' letter to the Prime Minister outlining a litany of intelligence
failures was revealed, Labor has called for all the reports on the army's top intelligence
analyst to be released to see if his concerns were justified.

A report by naval barrister, Captain Martin Toohey, about a case involving Lt Col Collins
found that the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) made reports in line with government
policy.

And Defence Minister Robert Hill last night released a separate report by Colonel Richard
Tracey, QC, who found Captain Toohey had gone beyond his terms of reference in his findings
about the DIO.

Speaking to reporters in Karratha, Mr Latham said he was unaware of the existence of
any third report - but did reiterate Labor's call for a Royal Commission into Australia's
intelligence agencies.

"There is a first report, a second report and now a third. That just demonstrates the
need to get all these matters before an inquiry with Royal Commission powers to establish
the facts," Mr Latham said.

"Let us not have an engagement with secret reports, let's actually have an inquiry,
an improvement in our intelligence services to get it right for the benefit of the Australian
people.

"Every time you hear of a new secret report it just confirms the need to have a thorough
inquiry with the proper powers."

Mr Latham also said Labor wanted to see a full examination of all the concerns raised
in recent times about the integrity and quality of intelligence services.

"The prime minister said yesterday it is open to the Flood inquiry to look at these
matters," Mr Latham said.

"He should be referring it to the Flood inquiry for investigation, and give that inquiry
the proper Royal Commission powers it needs, the resources to do the job properly."

AAP hn/tc/jv/de

KEYWORD: INTELLIGENCE LATHAM (REISSUING)

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