Fed: Police asked to look at conduct of MP s staff

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2001
Fed: Police asked to look at conduct of MP s staff

By Jordan Baker

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - The Australian Federal Police has been asked to investigate
allegations that a former Labor Party staff member misused entitlements.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the Department of Finance and Administration had
examined the allegations and handed the case to the Australian Federal Police.

But Federal Labor MP Kim Wilkie said today he was not aware of police involvement in
the matter and said he was surprised and disappointed.

Mr Wilkie, who holds the West Australian seat of Swan, last year admitted to parliament
that members of his staff had not followed guidelines when claiming private vehicle allowances.

At the time, he said he would repay allowances clocked up since 1998 and consider disciplinary
action against the offenders.

"I suppose I'm disappointed, I'm surprised given the measures that I've taken to rectify
the situation," he told ABC radio.

A spokesman for Special Minister of State Eric Abetz said the department had investigated
two members of Mr Wilkie's staff, but presented only one case to police.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he would not comment on the matter until the investigation
was complete.

Last November, Mr Wilkie told parliament he discovered a problem with the claims procedure
in his office after checking his records and questioning staff.

He made public a letter to the manager of parliamentary services, in which he said
a staff member claimed money for using a private vehicle three times without authorisation.

"I've regretfully come to the conclusion that the verification procedures I have employed
have not been sufficiently rigorous," Mr Wilkie said in the letter.

Later, The Bulletin magazine alleged two of Mr Wilkie's staff members made false travel
claims and used the money, totalling around $9,000, to pay for ALP memberships in Mr Wilkie's
branch.

An AFP spokeswoman said police would assess the case and decide whether to take it on.

The spokeswoman said police were still investigating allegations of impropriety in
the federal seats of Mayo (South Australia), Adelaide, and Ryan (Brisbane).

The Mayo investigation relates to allegations that the Australian Democrats paid $2,000
to print One Nation how-to-vote cards during the 1998 federal election.

Police are investigating allegations an independent candidate in the Ryan by-election
gave his preferences to Labor in return for using an ALP office to produce campaign material.

In Adelaide, ALP members were accused of handing out how-to-vote cards for a Greens
candidate and paying for cards and posters promoting an independent candidate.

A police investigation recently cleared Employment Services Minister Mal Brough of
being involved in false electoral enrolments, but Labor said investigations into his staff
were continuing.

The AFP also cleared Labor frontbencher Wayne Swan of involvement in a cash-for-preferences
deal with the Australian Democrats during the 1996 election.

AAP jb/kjp/mg/sbr

KEYWORD: WILKIE NIGHTLEAD

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