“Tactical” or cash payments to people smugglers and others must be accounted for

Following the disclosure that people smugglers allegedly received large cash payments from Australian Government officials – Independent Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie has called on the Abbot Government to come clean on all cash or “tactical payments” made by Australian Government officials and members of the Australian Military.

“ After receiving a heads up from our young veterans, I questioned our senior ADF officers during the recent Senate Estimates Hearings about the practise of our troops paying large sums of Australian cash to Afghan and Iraqi nationals. As the official Parliamentary record shows, (see attached) this practise was confirmed to me by senior officers in charge of our ADF, who described the policy of paying large sums of cash to Afghan and Iraqi civilians as “Tactical Payments”. Said Senator Lambie.

“However the official record also shows those in charge of our military were very reluctant to release further information. Rear Admiral Griggs told me in relation to Tactical Payments authorised by the Australian Government; There will be elements of that which we will not be able to answer.

My response is, why not? That cash was Australian Tax payer’s money – it still comes with a strict level of accountability. There should be no cover up. My genuine fear was that if this scheme was not properly administered, the Australian Government could have been guilty of giving cash to the Taliban and other enemies and funding their fight against us.” said Senator Lambie.

“And now with the knowledge that our government officials, perhaps working with our Military – could have been involved in paying off or bribing people smugglers, who are not only international criminals, murders and rapists – but clearly enemies of Australia – I’m even more determined to find out the truth of the matter and hold this government to account.

I have questions On Notice regarding the full details of our military’s “tactical cash payments” – and I want them answered today. I expect the government to cover up. As I said to rear Admiral Griggs on the 1st of June – 14 days ago, I want to know: who it was paid to, where it was paid to, the dates and times and locations, how much all up, and whether or not that information has been paid for – for counterintelligence – within that domain as well?

And now with our Prime Minister and Senior Liberal ministers dodging questions about cash payments to people smugglers – it’s reasonable to ask, were “tactical” cash payments made to bribe our enemies in the Middle East? Are cash payments to people-smugglers part of our military’s “Tactical” payment scheme?” said Senator Lambie.

Australian Military’s Tactical Payment Scheme – Senator Lambie

Source: Estimates Hansard
Monday 1st of June 2015 Page 30
Senator LAMBIE: You can see where I am coming from in relation to the double standards and also the rank. When you provide those answers to me, could you break them down into whether they are non-commissioned officers or officers that requested that transgender transformation. My next question is: how much compensation was paid to civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and under what conditions was money given to civilians? I am asking about cases where our guys destroy property, or they want to be able to go in and take over a house, or they want to pay money to take over a paddock. I want to know how much taxpayers money has been spent in the past 13 years to achieve this.
Mr Richardson: We would need to take that on notice.
Vice Adm. Griggs: We have a scheme called the tactical payment scheme, which was in force in those theatres. We would need to take the actual detail on notice, as the secretary said.
Senator LAMBIE: Could you also take this on notice: who it was paid to, where it was paid to, the dates and times and locations, how much all up, and whether or not that information has been paid for for counterintelligence within that domain as well.
Vice Adm. Griggs: There are a couple of difficult issues in that. We will take the question on notice. There will be elements of that which we will not be able to answer.
Senator LAMBIE: How does this scheme work?
Vice Adm. Griggs: The tactical payments scheme?
Senator LAMBIE: Yes.
Vice Adm. Griggs: In broad terms, your understanding was correct. It is for people who either have property damage or loss of life as a result of ADF operations.
Rob Messenger