The Removal of Willie Brigitte Robert McClelland - Shadow Minister for Homeland Security,

Media Statement - 11 July 2004

Reports today that the prosecution of Willie Brigitte may have been compromised by the process of his removal from Australia are very concerning.

The Attorney General was responsible for determining the process of Brigitte’s removal from Australia and he must acknowledge ultimate responsibility if this process has compromised the prosecution of Mr Brigitte.

Labor has consistently argued that the Attorney General acted with undue haste in removing Willie Brigitte from Australia before Australian law enforcement authorities were able to properly interrogate him.

This haste followed on from the Australian Governments failure to respond to repeated warnings from the French regarding Mr Brigitte because our intelligence services were closed for the long weekend.

The Attorney General must now explain what, if any, enquiries he made before hastily removing Willie Brigitte, to ensure the process of removal he selected did not compromise the prosecution of Mr Brigitte in France.

The Attorney General must also confirm whether or not the process of removal he selected has prevented Australian intelligence officials from gaining access to Mr Brigitte.

He must also explain whether or not the challenge to Brigitte’s detention in France will have any impact on the investigation and prosecution in Australia of people suspected of collaborating with Mr Brigitte during his time here.

The Attorney General has repeatedly defended his decisions about the timing and process of the removal of Willie Brigitte from Australia.  He cannot now criticise the French for the consequences of his own decisions.

If the prosecution of Mr Brigitte has been compromised then it is one more sorry chapter in the Howard Government’s mishandling of the entire Willie Brigitte affair.