PRIME MINISTER - Howard file.2
16 May 2005
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW,
GARVAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SYDNEY
Subject: Schapelle Corby request for information.
JOURNALIST:
And with Schapelle Corby, the letter, how do you feel this letter will persuade [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well this letter was asked for by her lawyers last Thursday and it was provided on Friday evening. It deals with facts, it arises out of a request that was made by her lawyers to the court, for the court to view some footage from a Channel Nine report. The court indicated, so I am told, that it wouldn’t view the footage, but if it had communication from the Government, dealing with certain facts and the letter which has been published at the behest of the lawyers in the press this morning, deals with certain facts relating to the allegations concerning the baggage handlers and the coincidence of the dates, the 8th October 2004. Now what that means for the consideration of the case by the Indonesian court is a matter for the court to determine. I repeat what I said yesterday, I hope that the verdict is fair and true and right and just. The Government will provide any information or support that it appropriately and properly should provide to assist in the presentation of Schapelle Corby’s defence. It is not appropriate for me to try in any way to intervene in the judicial process of another country, any more than it would be right and proper for me to try and intervene in the judicial process in this country.
JOURNALIST:
So you don’t believe that that letter amounts to interference?
PRIME MINISTER:
The letter is not interference, the letter represents the provision of factual information that the defence lawyers are entitled to have, they asked for, and will be made available to the court. It is never interference to provide factual information. Thank you.
[ends]
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW,
GARVAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SYDNEY
Subject: Schapelle Corby request for information.
JOURNALIST:
And with Schapelle Corby, the letter, how do you feel this letter will persuade [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well this letter was asked for by her lawyers last Thursday and it was provided on Friday evening. It deals with facts, it arises out of a request that was made by her lawyers to the court, for the court to view some footage from a Channel Nine report. The court indicated, so I am told, that it wouldn’t view the footage, but if it had communication from the Government, dealing with certain facts and the letter which has been published at the behest of the lawyers in the press this morning, deals with certain facts relating to the allegations concerning the baggage handlers and the coincidence of the dates, the 8th October 2004. Now what that means for the consideration of the case by the Indonesian court is a matter for the court to determine. I repeat what I said yesterday, I hope that the verdict is fair and true and right and just. The Government will provide any information or support that it appropriately and properly should provide to assist in the presentation of Schapelle Corby’s defence. It is not appropriate for me to try in any way to intervene in the judicial process of another country, any more than it would be right and proper for me to try and intervene in the judicial process in this country.
JOURNALIST:
So you don’t believe that that letter amounts to interference?
PRIME MINISTER:
The letter is not interference, the letter represents the provision of factual information that the defence lawyers are entitled to have, they asked for, and will be made available to the court. It is never interference to provide factual information. Thank you.
[ends]
