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Kurdish Government representative has defended
Senator Ross Lightfoot over allegations he smuggled
$25,000 into Iraq on behalf of oil company Woodside.
Simko Hamlet says Senator Lightfoot was not
aware of the money until it was handed over to the
Kurdish Prime Minister at a meeting.
He says the money was never in the Senator's
possession.
"He didn't know that I have to deliver that money
except when we met the KRG [Kurdish Regional
Government] Prime Minister," he said.
"Then when I hand the money to the Ministry of
Health, then he knew I delivered that donation from
Woodside."
Prime Minister John Howard also continues to defend
Senator Lightfoot over the allegations.
He says he believes there is some "difference of
emphasis" in Senator Lightfoot's explanations about
why he was armed during the visit to Iraq.
But Mr Howard says the Senator's response to the
more serious allegation of smuggling has been
credible.
"I would agree having listened to the interviews
that there were some difference of emphasis," he
said.
"But... the real issue - and that is the smuggling -
he just denies that and that is at variance with
what the journalists have said.
"I wasn't there, you weren't there."
ASIC inquiry?
But the Greens say the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission (ASIC) should look into the
matter.
Greens leader Bob Brown wants to know how Senator
Lightfoot is associated with Woodside.
"I think ASIC should be looking at the matter," he
said.
"Whether it should establish a formal inquiry or
not, that's up to ASIC."
www.abc.net.au
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