NSW: Reith denies Howard asked about children overboard scandal
SYDNEY, Feb 14 AAP - Former defence minister Peter Reith has reportedly cast doubtson Prime Minister John Howard's account of his involvement in the children overboard affair.
Mr Reith yesterday denied John Howard's claim in question time that the prime ministercalled him on November 7 to check the veracity of Coalition claims that asylum seekersthrew their children overboard, The Australian newspaper reported.
Mr Howard said after a press conference on October 10, in which Simon Crean asked himto make further inquiries into the incident, he asked Mr Reith if there was any furtherevidence.
The Prime Minister said the two of them agreed to release photographs of the incident.
He was then asked why he failed to alter his account after firm evidence had emergedby October 11 from within the Defence Department that no children were thrown overboard.
Mr Howard said they had received unambiguous advice on October 7 and at no stage didhe receive further counsel which contradicted it.
In response to a question by Opposition leader Simon Crean, Mr Howard also said hechecked whether there had been any alteration to the original advice on November 7 withMr Reith.
But when The Australian asked Mr Reith if Mr Howard had spoken to him at any stageabout the matter, he said no.
"The reason from my point of view is that we'd asked for the video; we hadn't had thatback and until that came back there was nothing useful to say," said Mr Reith.
Mr Reith retired from politics at the November 10 election.
In parliament yesterday, Mr Crean unsuccessfully moved to censure Mr Howard over themisleading comments.
"It's either incompetence or dishonesty," he said.
"Either way the government's credibility is in tatters."
AAP klw/sjk
KEYWORD: BOAT REITH
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