Max Bradford National Defence Spokesperson
4 October 2001
National exposes inquiry shortcomings
Cross examination by National in a parliamentary select committee today resulted in the Audit Office admitting that it
would have extended its inquiry into the purchase of the Light Armoured Vehicles if it knew about the existence of an
army campaign letter.
National released the Gordon document which outlined an army campaign to gain a bigger portion of defence funding in
August. Today the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee questioned the Assistant-Auditor General about the LAV
purchase inquiry.
"The committee heard that the Audit Office interviewed Lieutenant Colonel Gordon five times during its inquiry but
during those interviews he didn't mention a campaign by the army to secure a bigger share of defence funding,"
National's Defence spokesperson Max Bradford said.
"It is clear that through no fault of its own, but possibly as a direct result of the conspiracy in the army, that the
Audit Office was unable to do its job properly.
"We are now calling for the Auditor General to reopen his inquiry into the purchase of the LAV3s and the underlying
reasons for the dysfunctionality within the Army.
"This week we've heard that army head Major General Dodson behaved inappropriately in ordering documents relevant to the
inquiry to be destroyed.
"It's clear the truth to the army campaign cannot come out unless there is a full and open inquiry where witnesses can
be called to give evidence under oath," Mr Bradford said.
Ends