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Curtin University Professor Robert Amin also
travelled to Iraq at this time and Senator Lightfoot
accompanied him on visits to educational
institutions inside Iraq.
Senator Lightfoot's travels to Iraq hit the
headlines last month when it was alleged he smuggled
the $US20,000 donation into Iraq hidden inside his
clothes.
The Senator also admitted carrying a handgun for
personal protection and was photographed holding the
AK-47 assault rifle of one of his Kurdish guards.
In a statement released last night, Curtin said it
had completed its investigation into the $US20,000
donation it made on behalf of Woodside to the
Kurdistan Regional Government representative in
Australia earlier this year.
“This work by our Internal Audit team has shown that
the donation was clearly documented, and Curtin has
seen the receipt from the Kurdish Regional
Government,” Professor Glover said.
“We have been advised the donation was used to
assist patients and improve facilities at an Iraqi
hospital.”
Professor Glover said the decision to make the
payment through Curtin rather than directly by
Woodside to the appropriate Iraqi representative was
not the best way to make the donation.
He said Curtin would not facilitate any similar
payments in the future.
Professor Glover said the University was not
involved in the visit to Iraq by Senator Lightfoot
in January this year.
Labor has referred Senator Lightfoot to federal
parliament's privileges committee for failing to
declare the sponsorship of his first trip to Iraq in
July last year.
Senators are required to declare sponsored travel
worth $300 or more within 28 days of taking the
trip.
Senator Lightfoot's trip first came to light on
March 17 this year when he was forced to defend the
second trip to the oil-rich area of Kurdistan in
which he allegedly took the $US20,000 cash donation
on behalf of Woodside.
Senator Lightfoot has denied the claims he smuggled
the cash into Iraq on behalf of Woodside and
threatened legal action for defamation.
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