The Australian Greens say a new Senate inquiry will have the scope to examine allegations the Deputy Prime Minister used an intermediary to offer an independent MP a diplomatic posting in exchange for leaving his seat.Labor claims the inquiry will not look into that issue and will only review claims the Government used its Regional Partnerships Program as an election slush fund.
Nationals leader John Anderson has strenuously denied the bribery allegations made by Independent MP Tony Windsor, and the Australian Federal Police have already dismissed the claims.
But Greens leader Bob Brown has said the inquiry's terms of reference are wide.
"The point of the committee is to make sure the funding going to regional projects is without any political intervention and is within the guidelines," he said.
"It is able to look at all matters related to that and of course if there's been some form of misconduct, criminal or other, related to the funding of any project then that's something that the committee will look at."
By Succession 3 December 04
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