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| Kerry Stokes threatens to quit war memorial council in fury at Corby raids | Kerry Stokes threatens to quit war memorial council in fury at Corby raids |
| (6 months later) | |
| The chairman of Seven West Media, Kerry Stokes, is so furious about the federal police raids on the Seven network over its dealings with Schapelle Corby he has told the government he is unlikely to sit for another term on the Australian War Memorial council. | The chairman of Seven West Media, Kerry Stokes, is so furious about the federal police raids on the Seven network over its dealings with Schapelle Corby he has told the government he is unlikely to sit for another term on the Australian War Memorial council. |
| Sources say Stokes called the minister for veterans’ affairs, Michael Ronaldson, to express his disgust at the tactics employed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), despite Seven’s compliance with requests for documents. | Sources say Stokes called the minister for veterans’ affairs, Michael Ronaldson, to express his disgust at the tactics employed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), despite Seven’s compliance with requests for documents. |
| A spokesman for Ronaldson declined to comment on the call but gave Guardian Australia a statement. | A spokesman for Ronaldson declined to comment on the call but gave Guardian Australia a statement. |
| “The minister has responsibility for a number of boards, including the Australian War Memorial council, and does not discuss conversations between himself and members of those organisations.” | “The minister has responsibility for a number of boards, including the Australian War Memorial council, and does not discuss conversations between himself and members of those organisations.” |
| Stokes, who has a deep interest in war history, has served on the council since August 2007 and was appointed for a second term in April 2011. His three-year term is almost up and he had been asked by the government to serve a third term. | Stokes, who has a deep interest in war history, has served on the council since August 2007 and was appointed for a second term in April 2011. His three-year term is almost up and he had been asked by the government to serve a third term. |
| Seven West Media’s chief executive, Tim Worner, strongly denied on Thursday that the AFP had uncovered key documents during their raid on the network earlier this week. | |
| “Any claims by the AFP that they uncovered any relevant documents as part of their raid on Seven West Media and its premises are false,” Worner said. | “Any claims by the AFP that they uncovered any relevant documents as part of their raid on Seven West Media and its premises are false,” Worner said. |
| On Wednesday Worner wrote to the attorney-general, George Brandis, expressing the concerns of Seven West Media at the actions of the AFP. Worner described the raids as an “unprecedented” step of serving and executing a search warrant on a media organisation. | On Wednesday Worner wrote to the attorney-general, George Brandis, expressing the concerns of Seven West Media at the actions of the AFP. Worner described the raids as an “unprecedented” step of serving and executing a search warrant on a media organisation. |
| “Of great concern is that fact that we understand members of your government were informed that the reason for taking out and executing the warrants was the alleged non co-operation of Seven with a previous production order,” Worner wrote. | “Of great concern is that fact that we understand members of your government were informed that the reason for taking out and executing the warrants was the alleged non co-operation of Seven with a previous production order,” Worner wrote. |
| “In fact in the AFP’s own press release issued yesterday at 3.25pm, it stated that ‘the AFP [had] been in discussion with Channel 7 and their legal representatives regarding a Proceeds of Crime Act matter since 11 February 2014’.” | “In fact in the AFP’s own press release issued yesterday at 3.25pm, it stated that ‘the AFP [had] been in discussion with Channel 7 and their legal representatives regarding a Proceeds of Crime Act matter since 11 February 2014’.” |
| A report in the Australian on Thursday headlined “AFP raid unearths Seven ‘deal’ with Corby family” said Seven had failed to provide all documents requested. | A report in the Australian on Thursday headlined “AFP raid unearths Seven ‘deal’ with Corby family” said Seven had failed to provide all documents requested. |
| But Worner said the document given to the AFP by Seven during their visit on Tuesday was not covered by or requested in the previous production order. | But Worner said the document given to the AFP by Seven during their visit on Tuesday was not covered by or requested in the previous production order. |
| “A massive amount of public time and money has been wasted on something that could have been requested by email,” Worner said. | “A massive amount of public time and money has been wasted on something that could have been requested by email,” Worner said. |
| “In any event the document had no legal effect as it is an unsigned draft which was never finalised. | “In any event the document had no legal effect as it is an unsigned draft which was never finalised. |
| “The production order only sought actual agreements. Thirty-four armed personnel were required to correct a drafting error in a massive over reaction. AFP believed what they read in the papers and are no doubt shocked to discover the truth.” | “The production order only sought actual agreements. Thirty-four armed personnel were required to correct a drafting error in a massive over reaction. AFP believed what they read in the papers and are no doubt shocked to discover the truth.” |
| Worner’s statement echoes comments made by his commercial director, Bruce McWilliam, on Tuesday. McWilliam told Guardian Australia the Corby family had declined to sign documents sent to them to secure a deal. | |
| “The actual fact is there isn’t an agreement reached yet,” McWilliam said after the raid on Tuesday morning. | “The actual fact is there isn’t an agreement reached yet,” McWilliam said after the raid on Tuesday morning. |
| “All you’ve got is a whole lot of failed negotiations, effectively. There were attempts at sending stuff to sign but they never ended up signing them.” | “All you’ve got is a whole lot of failed negotiations, effectively. There were attempts at sending stuff to sign but they never ended up signing them.” |