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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Australia row over 'fake' e-mail | Australia row over 'fake' e-mail |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| An e-mail at the centre of opposition attempts to oust Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a fake, according to police. | An e-mail at the centre of opposition attempts to oust Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a fake, according to police. |
| The e-mail was purported to have been sent to a treasury official by Mr Rudd's office, to help his car dealer friend get a government loan. | The e-mail was purported to have been sent to a treasury official by Mr Rudd's office, to help his car dealer friend get a government loan. |
| Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said the e-mail showed Mr Rudd had abused his position and must resign. | Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said the e-mail showed Mr Rudd had abused his position and must resign. |
| Analysts say this is the biggest test Mr Rudd has faced since he was elected. | Analysts say this is the biggest test Mr Rudd has faced since he was elected. |
| Australian media have dubbed the affair "Utegate", as the car dealer in question, John Grant, had lent Mr Rudd a "ute" - a two-seater pick-up truck - for use in his constituency. | Australian media have dubbed the affair "Utegate", as the car dealer in question, John Grant, had lent Mr Rudd a "ute" - a two-seater pick-up truck - for use in his constituency. |
| Escalating row | Escalating row |
| Opposition politicians believe Mr Rudd tried to help Mr Grant secure money from a Treasury fund called OzCar to help his business cope with the global economic slump. | Opposition politicians believe Mr Rudd tried to help Mr Grant secure money from a Treasury fund called OzCar to help his business cope with the global economic slump. |
| The row began on Friday, when Treasury official Godwin Grech told a Senate committee he thought he could remember receiving an e-mail regarding funding for the car salesman, but added he had no proof. | The row began on Friday, when Treasury official Godwin Grech told a Senate committee he thought he could remember receiving an e-mail regarding funding for the car salesman, but added he had no proof. |
| Mr Turnbull is nursing self-inflicted wounds and facing further questions about his political judgement and his basic political skills class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/06/utegate_the_smoking_gun_which.html">More from Nick Bryant | |
| Police were called in to search Mr Grech's home on Monday and specialists examined his computer equipment. | Police were called in to search Mr Grech's home on Monday and specialists examined his computer equipment. |
| "Preliminary results of those forensic examinations indicate that the e-mail referred to at the centre of this investigation has been created by a person or persons other than the purported author of the e-mail,'' the Australian Federal Police said in a statement on Monday. | "Preliminary results of those forensic examinations indicate that the e-mail referred to at the centre of this investigation has been created by a person or persons other than the purported author of the e-mail,'' the Australian Federal Police said in a statement on Monday. |
| The row forced a special session of parliament in which the two sides demanded resignations. | The row forced a special session of parliament in which the two sides demanded resignations. |
| Mr Rudd had given Mr Turnbull an ultimatum to produce the e-mail in the parliamentary session, or resign. | Mr Rudd had given Mr Turnbull an ultimatum to produce the e-mail in the parliamentary session, or resign. |
| Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Rudd lied to parliament | |
| "It is false, fake and a forgery. There can be no graver offence in public political life than to be in the business of communicating a document that is false, out there, through the media, in order to bring your political opponent down," Mr Rudd said. | "It is false, fake and a forgery. There can be no graver offence in public political life than to be in the business of communicating a document that is false, out there, through the media, in order to bring your political opponent down," Mr Rudd said. |
| He told parliament the opposition had failed to provide the evidence so had "no alternative now but to stand up and apologise and resign". | He told parliament the opposition had failed to provide the evidence so had "no alternative now but to stand up and apologise and resign". |
| But Mr Turnbull mounted his own attack, telling parliament: "What we have here is a shocking abuse of power. | But Mr Turnbull mounted his own attack, telling parliament: "What we have here is a shocking abuse of power. |
| "We have a treasurer who has used his considerable influence to get a favour for a mate. And not just any mate - a mate who is a benefactor of the prime minister," he said. | "We have a treasurer who has used his considerable influence to get a favour for a mate. And not just any mate - a mate who is a benefactor of the prime minister," he said. |
| Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey demanded Mr Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan should both stand down. | Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey demanded Mr Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan should both stand down. |