Albanese wants ex-spy chief to find out if missing 2003 Iraq war papers were a cover-up

Alexander Downer, who served as foreign minister during the invasion of Iraq, has backed Anthony Albanese’s call for as many cabinet documents as possible relating to the Iraq War to be released as the prime minister backed an investigation into whether a cover-up had taken place.

Albanese slammed the failure to release key documents relating to the lead-up to the war to the National Archives three years ago and the fact the documents were only discovered just before Christmas.

Speaking at his first press conference of the year, Albanese said there was no reason why the documents should not be made public, “with the exception of putting people in danger”, and vowed a report into the circumstances by former spy chief Dennis Richardson would be released within the fortnight.

Albanese said cabinet documents are provided to the National Archives of Australia three years ahead of their release under the law, meaning the documents went missing under the Morrison government.

“It’s clear that there were some cabinet records missing from that transfer from the government, some 78 cabinet records were not transferred to the National Archives,” Albanese said.

A statement about the missing documents released by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on New Year’s Eve described these “apparent administrative oversights” as “likely ... a result of COVID-19 disruptions at the time”.

Noting that the issue “did not have bipartisan support” in 2003, Albanese declared that “Australians have a right to know the basis upon which Australia went to war in Iraq”.

“Australians lost their lives during that conflict and we know that some of the stated reasons for going to war were not correct.”

Downer, who served as foreign minister from 1996 to 2007, backed Albanese’s call for as many documents as possible to be released.

“He’s right ... I think it’s a good idea,” Downer said. “I can’t for the life of me think of any reason they wouldn’t have been released other than an administrative error.”

Only documents that posed a genuine national security risk, rather than just possible political embarrassment, should be withheld from the public, he said.

Downer said he believed the unreleased documents probably included the agenda for meetings of cabinet’s national security committee, departmental submissions related to requests from Washington and reports on Australia’s capacity to contribute to the war effort.

He expected the documents would be only of “marginal interest” rather than contain any explosive revelations.

“I don’t expect anyone to be especially surprised by what they find in the documents,” he said, adding that most of the key deliberations about the war were made in verbal discussions rather than documents.

The National Archives has previously released submissions created for the national security committee and its predecessors.

The 2003 cabinet-papers release has been of particular interest as it covered the decision taken on March 18 by the Howard government to officially commit troops to Iraq. Australian troops entered the country fewer than 40 hours after the decision.

Asked if he thought there was a cover-up, Albanese said, “That’s why we have asked [former director-general of ASIO and Defence secretary] Dennis Richardson to do the review. I’m not aware of the circumstances.”

Former prime minister Scott Morrison was approached for comment.

Albanese added that examining the reasons the papers were not handed to the Archives by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet three years ago is “one element” of the investigation.

“Secondly, as well, we need transparency and there is a need for the release of these documents. The current head of [the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Glyn Davis] was only notified of the failure to forward the 78 documents just around just before Christmas.”

In mid-December, the Archives said it did not yet hold the national security committee documents. According to the department, the missing records were discovered on December 19.

The only document already released is a six-page note that reveals the full cabinet met on the morning of March 18, 2003, where Howard – who had earlier that day talked to US president George W. Bush – delivered a verbal briefing on the possible war.

The note, which records 18 separate cabinet decisions, records that Howard had received a formal request from Bush that “Australia participate in military action by a coalition to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and advice that it was the intention of the president to issue an ultimatum to Iraq very shortly”.

Noting that Iraq’s weapons represented a “real and unacceptable threat to international peace and security”, the cabinet agreed they posed a direct risk to Australia’s own security.

The note confirmed Howard talked to the then governor-general, Peter Hollingworth, about sending troops to Iraq. Just hours after the cabinet meeting, Howard went into the House of Representatives with a motion to support going to war that had already prompted protests from opponents.

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