[Greens-Media] Abetz rebuffed by Senate committee

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 13 September 2006

Abetz rebuffed by Senate committee

Unauthorised disclosure by Minister's office

Forests Minister Eric Abetz has had his challenge to Greens Leader Bob
Brown's fundraising to save Tasmania's forests thrown out by the
Senate's Committee for Pecuniary Interests.

The committee effectively reprimanded Senator Abetz because his office
leaked information about the Committee's deliberations to a journalist.

"It's a failed vendetta. Senator Abetz, as Minister, has joined the
Wielangta Forest court case against me. Unlike me, he doesn't risk a
dollar," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown challenged  Senator Abetz request that an anonymopuos
donation to Senator Brown be redirected to the Commonwealth Government
by moving in the Senate to have anonymous donations to MPs or political
parties redirected through the government to Australian charities. The
government opposed the move.

"It is demonstrable hypocrisy. The Minister, who ducked the Senate
debate, has been caught out. He has been hoist by his own petard,"
Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au