More from Senate Estimate overnight, where Federal police boss Reece Kershaw dodged questions and called for legal advice in a fierce grilling on why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not briefed earlier on the discovery of a caravan containing explosives and the address of a synagogue.
Albanese’s knowledge of the unusual discovery became a key subject of political debate because the prime minister was reportedly only told of the police investigation as the media found out about the probe. NSW Premier Chris Minns was briefed about 10 days earlier.
The Coalition argued Albanese’s lack of knowledge was a sign of his lack of authority in managing the antisemitism issue, but the prime minister has repeatedly said he trusted his security agencies.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw declined to answer questions about whether he briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the caravan discovery.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The shock discovery in Dural, NSW, raised the spectre of a terrorist attack, but this masthead reported earlier this month the explosives were up to 40 years old and crime figures were offering to reveal plans about the caravan to use it as leverage for a reduced prison term.
Kershaw opened his appearance at a late-night Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday by saying he would like not to be asked about the caravan matter because the investigation could be compromised.
“What I can say is this, and this is the truth, of course, … is that I briefed ministers at the appropriate time. And what is often led by my operational arm and done in an appropriate way,” he said in his first answer on the matter.
Asked if Albanese was only told in the hours before the Daily Telegraph published the first story on the Dural find, he said: “I’m not going to speculate because it’s not helpful.”
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Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson told Kershaw he must explain why he needed to maintain secrecy to not breach Senate rules on proving answers to questions.“I could talk all day about this, Senator,” Kershaw said.
Paterson: “Please do”.
Kershaw then said he would “keep it succinct” and said the non-disclosure related to the force’s “operational strategy” without expanding further.
“As respectfully as I could say this, you’re not a police officer investigating these crimes,” Kershaw said, who at one point said he wanted to get advice from his general counsel despite Paterson writing to him days earlier indicating an intent to ask about the caravan.
“It’s a bit corny, but you’ve just got to trust us on this one senator.”
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