Fed: Howard must beef up Flood inquiry: Latham

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2004
Fed: Howard must beef up Flood inquiry: Latham

Labor leader MARK LATHAM says the prime minister must broaden the inquiry into pre-war
intelligence on Iraq to investigate concerns raised by a top army intelligence analyst.

Lieutenant Colonel LANCE COLLINS has urged Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD to open a royal
commission into Australia's spy agencies.

He says Australia's spy agencies have failed the country many times -- from the absence
of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, to the outbreak of violence in East Timor following
its independence vote.

The PM has rejected the call for a royal commission.

Mr LATHAM has told reporters in Perth that if Mr HOWARD won't call a royal commission,
then he should give the existing Flood inquiry the powers it needs to investigate the
Colonel's concerns.

Former diplomat and director-general of the Office of National Assessments PHILIP FLOOD
was last month appointed to review intelligence material used to justify the war in Iraq
and the resourcing of Australia's spy agencies.

AAP RTV hn/lk/mj/rp

KEYWORD: INTELLIGENCE LATHAM (PERTH) WITH AUDIO

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