KEVIN RUDD M.P. Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

[02-160]

MEDIA RELEASE

YES PRIME MINISTER - PEOPLE DO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE EVIDENCE

That’s because you have arrogantly concluded that at this stage they don’t need to be given any

On ABC radio today Prime Minister Howard wondered aloud why “people keep talking about evidence” on the question of future policy towards Iraq.

Well, Prime Minister, the reason people keep asking questions about whether the evidence would warrant a military attack on Iraq involving Australia is that so far you have refused to provide your own evidence to the Australian Parliament and people.

The questions the Australian people would like to have answered are as follows:

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ What is the Government’s formal view on whether or not Iraq is linked to the events of September 11?

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Does Iraq possess a nuclear weapon? If not, when is Iraq likely to possess a nuclear weapon? Does the Government agree with Vice President Cheney who said recently that Iraq would “soon” have such a weapon? Does the Government agree with President Bush’s statement that Iraq is only six months away from a nuclear weapon - despite a statement overnight by the International Atomic Energy Agency disputing Mr Bush’s claim?

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Does the Government have evidence that Iraq’s chemical and biological agents have been weaponised? Have these weapons increased in number and capability since 1998?

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Finally, what long-range delivery systems does Iraq now have to deliver weapons of mass destruction in its possession?

These are reasonable questions which the Australian community would like to hear responses to from their own government - not from anybody else’s - given it is their own government that is currently contemplating going to war.

Mr Howard’s constant response to any question about the case against Iraq is he would judge the matter “in our national interest”. This is a nice-sounding phrase. But it would be useful if the Prime Minister began to define it in precise terms. Otherwise it is simply a term that provides the Prime Minister with maximum political flexibility to do whatever he wants.

Ends 9 September 2002

For further information contact:  Kevin Rudd, MP on 0418 796 931 or Alister Jordan on 0417 605 823

