Julia Gillard couldn't recall seeing a document raised as new evidence in AWU scandal
- The Australian
- November 23, 2012
The Prime Minister today responded to fresh allegations in the AWU slush fund scandal, relating to documents concerning the purchase of a Melbourne property by her former boyfriend, Bruce Wilson.
On the ABC last night, Ms Gillard's former colleague at law firm Slater & Gordon, Nick Styant-Browne, produced a 1993 Commonwealth Bank document that he claimed contradicted what Ms Gillard told the firm's partners about the mortgage two-and-a-half years later.
He said the bank document faxed to Ms Gillard in March 1993 shows she knew about insurance organised for the property in Kerr Street, Fitzroy.
The purchase of the property was part-funded by money from the AWU Workplace Reform Association, which Ms Gillard set up and later described as a “slush fund".
Ms Gillard subsequently denied any knowledge of the mortgage when her partners interviewed her in late 1995 about the work she had been doing for Mr Wilson, Mr Styant-Browne said.
The Prime Minister today said she couldn't remember seeing the 1993 document, which was marked for her attention.
“What this boils down to is that 17 years ago, I couldn't recall events that happened two and a half years earlier,” the Prime Minister said in Melbourne.
“And let's be clear that the ... matter I couldn't recall related to Slater & Gordon issuing a mortgage, not a matter associated with any union fund or account.
“So, I think that there would be plenty of people who would say, `Yes, looking back over two and a half years, it's a bit hard to remember every piece of paper that has come across your desk'.”
She claimed a smear campaign was being waged against her and “it all boils down to absolutely nothing”.
“There has not been one substantiated allegation of wrongdoing put against me across the full 20 years and the whole campaign of smear,” Ms Gillard said.
A spokesman for Ms Gillard also said last night the Prime Minister “has no recollection of seeing the correspondence from the Commonwealth Bank dated 23 March 1993”.
“Ms Gillard stands by her statements in the Slater and Gordon interview of 11 September 1995 as her best recollection of events two and a half years earlier. There is no contradiction in anything you have put to us,” he said. “She did not personally arrange for the mortgage insurance for the Kerr Street property through the Commonwealth Bank.”
Earlier, Tony Abbott demanded Ms Gillard answer questions on new evidence in the AWU slush fund scandal.
“New evidence has emerged; documentary evidence from credible people in a position to know that suggests that that (Ms Gillard's statement) can no longer be considered a complete answer,” the Opposition Leader said.
“Denials are all very well. But in the face of new evidence, a simple denial is not enough. An explanation is necessary, and that is what the Prime Minister should be giving us.”
Ms Gillard has repeatedly and emphatically denied any wrongdoing connected to the establishment of the AWU Workplace Reform Association.
The fund was used by Mr Wilson to defraud hundreds of thousands of dollars from the AWU.
Ms Gillard says she had no knowledge of the operations of the fund.
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