bit of bribery alleged

ABC Online;
The Federal Opposition is calling for a wider inquiry into Australia's wheat exporter after new claims that the organisation had an established culture of paying kickbacks before it became embroiled in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal.

Two former employees have reportedly told Fairfax newspapers that AWB paid millions of dollars in bribes to officials in Pakistan and Indonesia while it was still under Government control in the 1990s, and after it was privatised.

The Government has set up an inquiry to examine the Iraq allegations but Labor's spokesman on foreign affairs, Kevin Rudd, says the terms are too narrow to encompass these latest claims.

"What we have today are stunning statements by former employees of the Australian Wheat Board," he said.

"It beggars belief that no concerns were ever raised with the Howard Government about these matters.

"John Howard's got to expand the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry."

The AWB says the issues relate to a time before the current managing director, and it will not be able to comment further until it has had a chance to examine the claims.

Dave R.