Fed: Labor steps up intelligence inquiry push

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2004
Fed: Labor steps up intelligence inquiry push

CANBERRA, April 17 AAP - Labor today stepped up calls for a royal commission into Australia's
intelligence services after the release of a report last night.

The Defence Department report vindicated claims by the Army's top spy, Lieutenant Colonel
Lance Collins, that he was sidelined after giving advice which ran counter to government
policy.

It was the third assessment of the case of Lt Col Collins - who claimed his Army career
stalled after he criticised spy agency, the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) -
to be made public.

Defence Minister Robert Hill released the report following repeated calls by opposition
parties for all information about the Collins case to be made public.

It also came as Indonesia's chief foreign affairs spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, said
talk of a pro-Jakarta lobby in Canberra was unhelpful.

Labor's defence spokesman Chris Evans said today the report showed Lt Col Collins had
been treated unfairly and an inquiry was needed.

"I think we've learned that (Lt) Col Collins has been treated very poorly, he hasn't
been afforded the sort of respect he should have been, that he's been discriminated against
and that still his major concerns haven't been addressed by the Defence Department," Senator
Evans told ABC radio.

He said he did not believe claims of a pro-Jakarta lobby having undue influence on
intelligence services had been properly tested.

"The accusations made by (Lt) Col Collins have got to be tested - that is why we are
supporting a royal commission-type inquiry to test those concerns, because it's in all
our interests that we have the best possible intelligence services," Senator Evans said.

AAP pjo/sjb

KEYWORD: INTELLIGENCE EVANS

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