Letter to The Australian from the Minister for Defence:

I’m concerned the article “Furious Faulkner revokes ban bid” (7/1) has given an incorrect account of the situation. When the Defence Department memo, or DEFGRAM, came to my attention, I was concerned it did not accord with my understanding of Senate practice and I spoke with the secretary of the Defence Department and the Chief of the Defence Force about it.

I wish to make it clear that at no stage was I “furious” about the memo, as claimed in the article.
The department secretary and the CDF reviewed the DEFGRAM, determined that it did not appropriately reflect current Senate procedures and accordingly withdrew it.

I subsequently received letters about the matter from the chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Senator Trood, and the opposition defence spokesman, Senator Johnston. At this stage, the DEFGRAM had already been withdrawn.

I was and remain concerned to ensure the Defence Department fully understands current Senate inquiry requirements and all applicable Senate procedures, and cooperates fully in any Senate inquiry involving Defence.

John Faulkner, Minister for Defence, Canberra, ACT
The Australian; Letters Blog | January 09, 2010