Fed: Brown demands to know if his calls were monitored

00-00-0000
Fed: Brown demands to know if his calls were monitored

CANBERRA, Feb 12 AAP - Greens leader Bob Brown said today he was one of those to havesent messages to the captain of the MV Tampa and demanded to know if the government hadmonitored them.

Transcripts of phone conversations between the International Transport Federation,the Maritime Union of Australia and the Tampa's crew were used by the government to formulatea political response after the vessel rescued 438 people near Christmas Island, The DailyTelegraph reported today.

The allegations should be investigated by a judicial inquiry, perhaps a royal commission,Senator Brown said.

He said it was an absolute outrage if the reported intercepts were true.

"Amongst many others, I sent messages to the captain of the Tampa. I wonder if thegovernment passed those on," he told reporters.

"The people in Australia have a right to know that the government is not eavesdroppingon citizens, on community groups, on elected representatives.

"The government needs to clear the air and make it absolutely clear what it did passon and what is being stored for use in the government interest, which is not necessarilythe public interest."

He said the issue required an independent inquiry separate from government and withthe ability to subpoena information.

"It does require a judicial inquiry if not a royal commission," he said.

"The spy agencies are there for the national interest, not for government politicalor party-political interest, particularly in the run to an election.

"If the government's got no worries about it, it will very easily support an inquiry,"

Senator Brown said.

AAP dep/ldj/bwl

KEYWORD: SPY BROWN