Halton Returns To The Hot Seat
25 July 2002
The CMI Inquiry resumes again next Tuesday (30 July), with the former Chair of the People Smuggling Taskforce, Jane Halton, the first witness of the day.
Halton appeared previously on 16 April in a marathon performance, giving evidence from 4pm in the afternoon until 1am in the morning with a 90 minute break for dinner. In that session she made several allusions to SIEVX but no questions were asked of her about the matter.
Since that time, the PST minutes have revealed that SIEVX was discussed by the Taskforce on a number of occassions between 18 and 29 October. On Tuesday, there is little doubt that the focus of questions to Halton will be on SIEVX and what was known and discussed by the Taskforce prior to 23 October (AEST), when CNN announced the boat had sunk.
Air Commodore Phillip Byrne, the Commander of the Maritime Patrol Group (P3 Orion Squadron) will also appear.
This may be the final sitting of the Inquiry.
Other SIEVX News
|