Abbott apologises to Wilkie

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has apologised to Andrew Wilkie for the coalition's
treatment of him when he resigned from his national security post over the Iraq War.
Mr Wilkie resigned from the Office of National Assessments in 2003 amid fears that
evidence about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction was being exaggerated to
justify military action.
He now looks certain to become the fourth independent in the new parliament and has
received calls from the leaders of both major parties seeking meetings.
Mr Wilkie said he and Mr Abbott had shared a "very pleasant exchange".
"He noted the way I had been treated over the Iraq War by the then Howard
government," he said.
"He said that although he was still a strong supporter of the Iraq War, he did
apologise for the way I was treated by some members of the government at the time."
Mr Wilkie said that although he felt vilified at the time, he regarded such issues
as "ancient history" and said they would have no bearing on his decision to support
a minority government from either party.



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