Govt won't probe new Kessing claims

The Rudd government has no plans to hold an inquiry into new claims by whistleblower
Allan Kessing that implicate Cabinet minister Anthony Albanese.
And the government is distancing itself from suggestions the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) recommended lawyers for Mr Kessing, who was charged after the information he
tried to give Mr Albanese was leaked to a newspaper.
Mr Kessing has now revealed that he approached Mr Albanese's office in early 2005
with a suppressed report that the former Customs officer had written two years
earlier outlining security shortcomings at Sydney airport.
Mr Albanese, now transport minister, was an opposition frontbencher at the time. He
took no further action following the approach.
"Information contained in those reports was in the national interest, but it was
suppressed by management," Mr Kessing told reporters on Monday.
Mr Kessing was later charged and then convicted after the information he tried to
supply Mr Albanese appeared in The Australian newspaper a few months later.
Mr Kessing denies supplying The Australian with the report.
The details involving Mr Albanese never emerged during the court case.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon is calling for an independent judicial inquiry
into Mr Kessing's subsequent trial and conviction in light of claims that Mr
Albanese was also aware of the information.
"What has happened to Allan Kessing is nothing short of a disgrace," Senator
Xenophon told Sky News.
In a statement on Monday, Mr Albanese said he believed the matter was dealt with
appropriately.
"I am confident my office acted appropriately when dealing with Mr Kessing," he said.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland indicated on Monday the government had no plans
to hold an inquiry.
"There's no plans to instigate an inquiry in respect to that matter," he said.
"It's not the government's role to investigate allegations of offences, that's the
role of the AFP (Australian Federal Police) ... they act on the advice of the
director of public prosecutions."
New AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said police would look into the matter, if asked.
"If the matter is referred to us we'll have a look at it," he said.
Mr McClelland distanced the government from claims that the ALP had recommended
lawyers to Mr Kessing.
Mr Kessing wouldn't divulge the details but said "colleagues" of Mr Albanese had
helped him.
"I don't wish to name them, they have nothing to hide, why don't they put their hand
up and say 'Yes we supplied a barrister to Mr Kessing'," he said.
"I'm not aware of any such thing occurring but then again there's no reason I would
necessarily be informed about this," Mr McClelland said.
Mr Kessing has decided to speak out about his approach to Mr Albanese - even though
it could mean he is charged again - because he wants the government to beef up its
planned whistleblower laws.
"The toll this ordeal has put on my family is immense," he said.
"It cost me my entire superannuation."