The federal opposition is asking for a “thorough” investigation of events that led to a security scare at an Australia Day function in Canberra.
Opposition spokesman on legal matters George Brandis said the chain of events that led to a serious breach of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s personal security began with a staff member in Ms Gillard’s office.
“We are suspicious of a cover-up,” Senator Brandis told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The opposition has written to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asking it to investigate.
Gillard staffer Tony Hodges resigned on Friday after passing on information to a third party, who alerted Aboriginal tent embassy supporters to the presence of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at the function in a Canberra restaurant.
In the letter to the AFP, Senator Brandis says it’s clear Mr Hodges’ action “precipitated the chain of events which resulted in the serious security breach” at the Lobby restaurant near the tent embassy.
“Given the gravity of the security breach … I am requesting, on behalf of the opposition, that you initiate a full investigation of the breach, the circumstances leading to it, and the conduct of those involved immediately following the incident,” Senator Brandis wrote.
He said the investigation should look at inconsistencies between the statements made by Mr Hodges and the person he informed of Mr Abbott’s whereabouts, Unions ACT secretary Kim Sattler.
Senator Brandis said police should also look at whether Mr Hodges acted alone or if other members of the prime minister’s staff or the prime minister herself were aware of Mr Hodges’ actions.
There were also questions about why it took 24 hours from the time of the incident for Ms Gillard to accept Mr Hodges’ resignation and whether her office tried to “cover up the involvement of others”, he added.
Senator Brandis said it appeared one or more federal offences may have been committed, including incitement, affray and causing harm to a commonwealth public official.
There was also the potential for a crime within the ACT of “counselling or procuring the commission of an offence by another person”.
Senator Brandis said whether a crime had been committed was “potentially an important question but it is not the most important question.
“The most important question is why the breach of security took place at all.”
Senator Brandis said this of itself should be enough to trigger a thorough investigation, given that it involved the safety of the “two most senior political leaders of the nation”.
He said it appeared neither Mr Hodges nor Ms Sattler had been interviewed by police for their version of events.
“Until we know that, it is not possible for anyone to conclude either that there was no incitement or that Mr Hodges was not involved in a censurable breach of the prime minister’s security,” Senator Brandis said.
He said the issue would be pursued during Senate estimates hearings, but under Senate rules prime ministerial staff could not be called to give evidence.
Asked whether it was possible that Mr Hodges’ acted alone and without authorisation, as the prime minister has said publicly, Senator Brandis said: “It is probably the most benign of several possibilities.”
Earlier on Monday, the AFP said it had been given information about the disclosure of Mr Abbott’s location, but believed no crime was committed.
“As such, the AFP is not conducting an investigation.”
Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott were targeted by 200 protesters while they attended an awards ceremony at The Lobby restaurant.
As she was rushed outside, with Mr Abbott close behind, the prime minister stumbled and lost a shoe in extraordinary scenes that were broadcast across the world.
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