Fed: PM must come clean on dealings with Alan Jones, Tanner

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2004
Fed: PM must come clean on dealings with Alan Jones, Tanner

MELBOURNE, April 28 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard must answer allegations he intervened
to have Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) chairman David Flint reappointed under
pressure from broadcaster Alan Jones, opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner
said today.

Professor Flint is facing growing pressure over a letter of support he wrote to Alan
Jones ahead of the cash-for-comments inquiry.

On his radio program today, rival 2UE broadcaster John Laws said Mr Jones told him
at a dinner party in November 2000 that he should be careful about what he said about
Prof Flint.

"Alan Jones then went on to say: `In fact I was so determined to have David Flint re-elected
that I personally went to Kirribilli House and instructed John Howard to reappoint David
Flint or he would not have the support of Alan Jones in the forthcoming election," Mr
Laws alleged.

A spokesman for the prime minister said he had no knowledge of any such conversation
between the broadcasters and did not take instruction from the media when carrying out
his duties.

But Mr Tanner said the statement was not enough.

"This is an allegation of corrupt behaviour by our prime minister and he hasn't directly
denied the claim that John Laws has made," Mr Tanner said.

"This is a claim that goes to the very heart the integrity of our system of government.

"It's like a football team getting to choose the umpires for the grand final."

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KEYWORD: FLINT TANNER

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