The Clarke report into the detention of Dr Mohamed Haneef, the Gold Coast doctor whose relative had exploded a suicide device in Scotland, is postponed a second time. The inquiry, which cannot compel witnesses or the taking of evidence under oath, is now due to report by 21 November, delayed from 14 November, which was delayed from 30 September.
The Clarke Inquiry into the Haneef Affair will have no excuse for an undotted ‘i’ or an uncrossed ‘t’…it has asked for a second extension of time.
The Clarke Inquiry is now due to report by 21 November…which follows a 14 November deadline…which was extended from a 30 September deadline initially, when the inquiry was set up in March 2008 to run six months.
Mr Clarke is inquiring into the continued detaining in jail of Dr Haneef, briefly a suspect because of a family relationship to a suicide bomber in Scotland.
From the outset, CLA has said that it is a toothless, Clayton’s inquiry, because Mr Clarke has no power to compel witnesses, and cannot enforce the taking of evidence under oath.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland on 10 November – just four days before a recent report deadline – agreed to a request by John Clarke for a further one-week extension for the reporting date of his inquiry into the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef until 21 November. As the AG said, pointedly highlighting the date of receiving the letter:
“In a letter I received today (14 Nov), Mr Clarke asked for the short extension following an unexpected delay in interviewing a critical witness. The additional time will allow Mr Clarke to
fully review and edit the report, before he provides it to the Government.
“The Clarke Inquiry is an important measure that will help ensure Australia’s security agencies are working as effectively as they can – both individually and collectively,” the AG said.
“The Government accepts that the extension requested by Mr Clarke is appropriate and will enable Mr Clarke to complete his important work.”