Senate question on april fools day

From Senate Hansard, 14 August 2007
(Question No. 3402)
Question

Senator Nettle (New South Wales) asked the Minister for Justice and Customs, upon notice, on 9 July 2007.(1)From 2005 to 2007, what has been the total cost incurred by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in conducting investigations into matters arising from the inquiry by the House of Representatives Privileges Committee into ?documents fraudulently and inaccurately written and issued in a member?s name?, also known as the April Fools? Day inquiry.(2)On what date was the Honourable Gary Nairn MP, who initiated the reference to the committee on 10 August 2005, advised by the AFP that since the events occurred on April Fools? Day they may have been a prank.(3)What costs were incurred by the AFP after Mr Nairn was advised that the matter may have been an April Fools? Day prank.Answer

Senator Johnston (Western Australia?Minister for Justice and Customs)?The answer to the honourable senator?s question is as follows:(1)The AFP has conducted two separate investigations in relation to these matters.

The AFP investigated an allegation referred by the Hon Gary Nairn MP on 18 April 2005, for offences relating to forgery of documents. This investigation was finalised in February 2006.

The cost incurred by the AFP for this investigation was approximately $25,000.00, primarily from the time allocated to the investigation (241.75 hours).

The AFP conducted a second investigation in 2006 relating to similar allegations which arose from a separate set of actions. The second investigation was finalised in December 2006.

The cost incurred by the AFP for the second investigation was approximately $41,000.00, primarily from the time allocated to the investigation (389 hours).

(2)On 3 May 2005, the AFP wrote to the Hon Gary Nairn MP and advised of the likelihood that the forged documents related to April Fools Day.(3)The cost incurred by the AFP in the first investigation subsequent to the correspondence to the Hon Gary Nairn MP on 3 May 2005 was approximately $25,000.00 (239.75 hours).