The Prime Minister, John Howard, says there is nothing stopping the Cole Inquiry from finding that he or one of his Ministers knew A-W-B was paying kickbacks to the former Iraqi regime.
Mr Howard was responding to the federal opposition leader, Kim Beazley, who says the inquiry should have been given wider terms of reference before Mr Howard gave evidence.
"There is nothing stopping a finding of fact by the Commissioner that I knew, Mr Downer knew, Mr Vaile knew." He said
"The Commissioner has the power to make a finding of fact and he has also said that if he comes across evidence that people other than those covered by the terms of reference are guilty of offences against the Commonwealth, he will ask for an extension of his terms of reference."