That the Government, and the Federal Police, have a lot to answer for in their total mishandling and disgraceful conduct in relation to the Haneef case, veteran radio man, Jon Faine, subjected Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews [one time member of the Victorian Bar] to what can only be described as a searing cross-examination on ABC Radio 774 the other morning:
Andrews: "The basis of [my decision] is that legislation provides that I should form a reasonable suspicion of an association between Haneef and those engaged in terrorism in the UK, namely the Ahmed brothers. Now, in forming a reasonable suspicion of that association, I was entitled to look at the fact that Haneef and the brothers knew each other, fraternised in the UK [a year ago], the material relating to the SIM card [Haneef had given to his relative a year ago], to the fact of a loan of money…"
Faine: "Are you aware anywhere, at any time, in any investigation in the world, of any suspect in terrorism calling the police even once, let alone four times, to provide his whereabouts and his contact details?"
Andrews: "Well Jon, firstly, the suspicion I've formed on the material at the time I made my decision, was to clearly raise a suspicion in my mind. And indeed, subsequent information provided to me be the federal police actually has confirmed that suspicion that I've had in in my mind."
Faine: "Could you answer my question?"
Andrews: "Sorry, what was the question?"
Faine: "The question you didn't answer is, are you aware of anywhere, anytime, in any investigation in any jurisdiction in the world, of a terrorist suspect ringing the police once, let alone four times, to provide information of their whereabouts, their identity, and to provide co-operation to the police investigating an act of terrorism?"
Andrews: "Well, that's a matter you'll need to take up with the federal police. I understand there was no actual contact made between Dr Haneef and [British police]."
Faine: "No, he phoned four times the number provided for a policeman in the UK [who had phoned Haneef's extended family in India. An aunt had then phoned Haneef in Australia to pass on the policeman's name and UK number]. Are you aware of any terrorist suspect anywhere in the world ever doing that?"
Andrews: "Well Jon, I'm not aware of every terrorist investigation in the world. I had material before me. I had to consider that material. I considered that material, and I believe in the national interest it was appropriate to cancel his visa … At the end of the day, it's a question of whether or not I had a reasonable suspicion."
There is only one word for it! Andrews failed, abjectly, answering anything remotely satisfactorily. He joins A-G Ruddock as yet another disgraceful Minister in the Howard cabinet.
Andrews: "The basis of [my decision] is that legislation provides that I should form a reasonable suspicion of an association between Haneef and those engaged in terrorism in the UK, namely the Ahmed brothers. Now, in forming a reasonable suspicion of that association, I was entitled to look at the fact that Haneef and the brothers knew each other, fraternised in the UK [a year ago], the material relating to the SIM card [Haneef had given to his relative a year ago], to the fact of a loan of money…"
Faine: "Are you aware anywhere, at any time, in any investigation in the world, of any suspect in terrorism calling the police even once, let alone four times, to provide his whereabouts and his contact details?"
Andrews: "Well Jon, firstly, the suspicion I've formed on the material at the time I made my decision, was to clearly raise a suspicion in my mind. And indeed, subsequent information provided to me be the federal police actually has confirmed that suspicion that I've had in in my mind."
Faine: "Could you answer my question?"
Andrews: "Sorry, what was the question?"
Faine: "The question you didn't answer is, are you aware of anywhere, anytime, in any investigation in any jurisdiction in the world, of a terrorist suspect ringing the police once, let alone four times, to provide information of their whereabouts, their identity, and to provide co-operation to the police investigating an act of terrorism?"
Andrews: "Well, that's a matter you'll need to take up with the federal police. I understand there was no actual contact made between Dr Haneef and [British police]."
Faine: "No, he phoned four times the number provided for a policeman in the UK [who had phoned Haneef's extended family in India. An aunt had then phoned Haneef in Australia to pass on the policeman's name and UK number]. Are you aware of any terrorist suspect anywhere in the world ever doing that?"
Andrews: "Well Jon, I'm not aware of every terrorist investigation in the world. I had material before me. I had to consider that material. I considered that material, and I believe in the national interest it was appropriate to cancel his visa … At the end of the day, it's a question of whether or not I had a reasonable suspicion."
There is only one word for it! Andrews failed, abjectly, answering anything remotely satisfactorily. He joins A-G Ruddock as yet another disgraceful Minister in the Howard cabinet.
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