Senate approves OzCar inquiry

The Senate has approved a federal government request to refer the fake OzCar email
affair to an upper house inquiry.
The vote on Wednesday was passed 34 to 32.
The Senate Standing Committee of Privileges will now investigate whether there was
collusion between Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Deputy Senate
Leader Eric Abetz and Treasury official Godwin Grech to manipulate the outcome of an
upper house hearing into the OzCar bill on June 19.
It was at that hearing where Mr Grech made explosive allegations that Kevin Rudd's
office asked him to help a car-dealer friend of the prime minister to get finance
under the OzCar scheme.
Earlier, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz was taunted by government senators with the
label "gullible Eric" for his role in the fake email scandal.
The senator was taken in by the fake email, written by Mr Grech, which purported to
prove the government was seeking favours for a car-dealer mate.
Senator Abetz got to his feet during question time in parliament to quiz the
government over its funding to GM Holden, to the delight of his opponents.
"Who gave you that question?" heckled Labor Senator Doug Cameron.
"Gullible Eric!"
Another government senator interjected with: "Did Godwin write this question?"
Innovation Minister Kim Carr, who was answering the question, cautioned Senator
Abetz against relying on "dodgy sources" in drafting his question.
Senator Abetz says he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing by the upper
house investigation into his role in evidence given to an inquiry into the OzCar
scheme.
Senator Abetz, who made a parliamentary apology to Mr Rudd on Tuesday, says he is
"absolutely confident" any inquiry will clear him.
"I was the one that asked the questions, organised the committee, nobody doubts what
I did was in good faith," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Later, the Senate rejected a motion calling for an inquiry into the conduct of
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy during an upper house committee hearing.
The motion was defeated seven to 41.
Family First senator Steve Fielding had called for the investigation into Senator
Conroy, who was last year caught on camera emailing questions which were then asked
of him by colleague Senator Doug Cameron.