Foreign minister Bob Carr had earlier denied his government's knowledge about the detention of dual Australian-Israeli citizen and suspected spy, Ben Zygier, in Israel.
But Senator Carr back flipped today at a senate estimates hearing, raising questions over the depth of the government's knowledge of the affair.
“The Australian government was advised through intelligence channels on December 16, 2010 of this individual's death on the previous day,” Senator Carr said.
“At no stage during his detention did the Australian government receive any request from the individual or his family to extend consular support."
DFAT secretary Peter Varghase told the hearing that he did not know if then foreign minister, Stephen Smith, was briefed.
“I do not know on the basis of the records I have examined that the foreign minister was briefed,” Mr Varghase said.
“Our embassy in Tel Aviv was not advised. The advice came to us in another form.”
But what is known of the life of Ben Zygier, a Melbourne lawyer whose family was well connected in the Victorian Jewish community?
WHAT'S KNOWN ABOUT BEN ZYGIER
Other names: Ben Alon, Ben Allen, Benjamin Burrows, “prisoner X”
Born: Melbourne, December 9, 1976. Married, two children (in Israel)
Education: King David and Bialik Colleges, Melbourne
Father: Geoffrey Zygier, Executive director of B'nai B'rith's Anti-Defamation Commission, former executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria
Mother: Louise Zygier, worked at Melbourne's Monash University and helped raise funds for its Jewish centre. Both parents reportedly left their positions at the time of their son's death in 2010.
Early life: member of the Jewish youth movement Hashomer Hatzair, graduated from the Machon leadership program in Jerusalem, lived at Kibbutz Gazit, in Israel's Galilee region
Last known residence: Raanana, Tel Aviv.
TIMELINE
About 2000 Moves to Israel, changes his name to Ben Allen.
Early 2000 Media reports that Mr Zygier was one of at least three dual Australian-Israeli citizens being investigated by ASIO over suspicions they were spying for Israel.
March 2002 Was working in insurance law at the Australian firm Deacons.
2002 to 2009: Unknown
2009 Travels back to Australia in 2009 to study an MBA at Monash University.
January 10, 2010 Assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, widely believed to have been carried out by Mossad using passports obtained from Australia and Europe.
February 27 2010 Media reports that ASIO investigated at least three dual Australian-Israeli citizens whom it suspects of using Australian cover to spy for Israel.
Also in that year, Mr Zygier angrily denies claims he is working for Israeli spy agency Mossad when approached by a reporter.
"Who the f--k are you?" an incredulous Mr Zygier told Fairfax's then Middle East correspondent, Jason Koutsoukis. "What is this total bullshit you are telling me?"
February 24 2010 DFAT secretary Peter Varghese was made aware of Zygier's detention, but the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv was not made aware due to national security concerns.
December 15 2010 - Reportedly commits suicide by hanging in Israel's maximum security Ayalon prison, in a suicide-proof cell built specifically for Yitzhak Rabin's assassin. Aged 34.
The Australian government assists with the repatriation of his body, on request of his family.
February 2013 – An ABC report connects the identity of notorious “prisoner x”, the subject of a strict suppression order in Israel, to Mr Zygier.
February 13/14 Australian foreign minister Bob Carr denied the government's knowledge of his detention, but then clarified, saying that while the embassy did not know, Australian intelligence agencies did.
The Israeli suppression order is partially lifted, allowing the re-reporting of foreign media reports but forbidding the publication of any new information about the case there.
