Media Release 205/2005
10 November 2005
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced the Government has established a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into possible breaches of Australian law in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme.
The Inquiry will examine whether the three Australian companies mentioned in the final report of the UN Volcker Inquiry, or any person associated with those companies, might have breached any law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory and, if so, whether the question of criminal or other legal proceedings should be referred to the relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory agency.
The Attorney-General said royal commission powers and immunities had been given to the Inquiry to allow it to fully investigate the matter. The powers enable the Inquiry to require witnesses to attend, answer questions and produce documents.
The Commission of Inquiry will be headed by former judge, the Hon Terence Cole AO, RFD QC.
Mr Cole is a former Judge of Appeal of the New South Wales Supreme Court. He was the Royal Commissioner for the Inquiry into the building and construction industry.
Mr Ruddock said the Government was concerned to ensure the Inquiry be conducted in an independent, timely and comprehensive manner. The Inquiry has been asked to complete its report by 31 March 2006.
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