Ministers co-operated with police in AWU probe: PM

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison says two ministers caught up in a controversy over union raids have co-operated with an investigation despite police saying they wanted to talk to them.

A Senate committee on Monday heard federal ministers Michaelia Cash and Michael Keenan twice refused to provide witness statements to police relating to media leaks about raids on Australian Workers’ Union offices in 2017.

AFP deputy commissioner Leanne Close said police wanted the opportunity to speak to both ministers and obtain a witness statement.

Both ministers were asked at least twice to explain their involvement in the raids, she said.

Instead, the ministers sent the AFP letters to explain their roles. Mr Morrison (pictured) contradicted this version of events, saying police wrote to his ministers and asked them to respond, and they did.

“People should co-operate with police investigations and my ministers have,” he told 3AW yesterday.

“They provided a response and the police have accepted that response and haven’t sought, I’m advised, any further statement.”

Australian Federal Police also believe evidence could have been destroyed in relation to the media leaks.