Senator Heffernan

Media Statement - 15 July 2002

The Prime Minister must come clean on what was discussed with former NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan on March 18 concerning Senator Bill Heffernan's allegations against Justice Michael Kirby.

Mr Ryan says he told Mr Howard at that meeting that Federal Police would investigate the allegations made by Senator Heffernan.

The Nine Network's Sunday program further alleged Mr Howard was only prevented from announcing a Federal Police inquiry by Labor's revelation that the Comcar document was fraudulent.

Mr Howard has since issued a very specific denial that "there was no proposal to announce an AFP inquiry", but does not deny an inquiry was under consideration.

Mr Howard's denial of any involvement in Senator Heffernan's malicious attack on Justice Kirby has today also been contradicted by a second source.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Wayne Patterson's claim Mr Howard was shown the fake document has been verified by another informant of Senator Heffernan's.

The informant claims he personally witnessed Senator Heffernan taking the document to Mr Howard's office, and that "Bill told me that the Prime Minister indicated that he wanted to see more statutory declarations".

For the first time today, Attorney-General Daryl Williams has also confirmed he had sighted Senator Heffernan's documents prior to his attack on Justice Kirby.

It is now clear the Prime Minister and his Attorney-General knew a lot more than they have admitted and it is time they came clean about their full involvement in Senator Heffernan's attack on Justice Kirby.