The AWB Inquiry Triptych

A Vaile of Secrecy

Mr Vaile's white commonwealth car arrived to a rock star reception from media hordes and scores of lunchtime onlookers. He told reporters his appearance was proof of a "transparent" process, but the world wasn't much wiser when he left the witness stand 90 minutes later. His written statement addressed 21 diplomatic cables about suspected irregularities in AWB contracts, and 21 times he said: "I have no recollection of receiving or reading this cable." The Age, 11/04/06

My mind is open.

The process is open.

The process is transparent.

My brain is transparent.

Look closely in my left ear and you will see a clear sky.

I'm pretty well snowed under but there are

no clouds on the horizon...

The doctor says I

have the AWBs

But I have no

recollection

Keep on truckin' !

(Alexander Downer makes it crystal clear about Austrade and AWB kickbacks, inter-Alia )

Yes, it would appear $290 million in kickbacks was paid to the insidious Saddam Hussein regime with which Australia was on the verge of waging war.

Did you read the cables?

I don't recall.

I just don't recall.

No, not that I can recall at all.

I can't recall my state of mind when I read the document...

I don't recall being given that information.

Well, I can only tell you what I can recall...

If he had told me that, I would have thought I'd have remembered it, but I don't recall.

But evidence suggests the contrary...

Yes, it could be.

It may have been.

It could have been.

It might have been..

I don't recall them saying that to me.

I could have done, but I don't recall it.

I don't recall him saying that in the conversation.

I am only in a position to tell you what I recall of the conversation, which is very sketchy...

I don't recall it being brought to my attention, but it is possible it could have been.

Yes, I don't recall that being discussed, but I simply do not recall it is all I can say.

I have only a very distant recollection, surprisingly. It's a long time ago.

Well, my recollection is consistent with the statement that I made. I don't really have anything to add to it.

I stand by my statement.

I still stand by my statement.

I don't remember precisely...

My recollection is of a much more general nature. I can't answer that question.

No-one's memory is perfect.

I may have done.

But did you?

I can't tell you.

Why not?

I have no recollection of it.

I just can't recall it at all...

III

The PM has his day in court for 45 minutes.

Of course I'm not worried.

Do I look worried?

We'll decide who comes to this inquiry and

under which circumstances they come.

I set up this inquiry.

I set the terms of reference.

I have complete confidence in the integrity and independence of Justice Terence Cole. Terry and I went to school together.

I choose my advisers.

They choose what to pass on to me.

There are no records available to indicate that a hard copy of the cable was received.

I stand by my practice of only reading cables brought to my attention by advisors.

I'm a trained lawyer, you know.

That's enough.

You've had a fair go.

That's an Australian Value.

There won't be any cross-examination.

Terry won't allow it.

rob walker, april 2006 . First read at Friendly Street Poets, 2/5/06.