Fed: Adviser sacked for not turning up, not views on Iraq - head

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2004
Fed: Adviser sacked for not turning up, not views on Iraq - head

The Defence Department says former adviser JANE ERREY was sacked for not turning up
to work, not for her views on the Iraq war.

Ms ERREY, the former senior executive adviser to the chief defence scientist, had a
year off work before she was dismissed last week.

She says she was sacked for refusing to exaggerate briefings about Iraq's alleged weapons
of mass destruction.

But Defence Department acting secretary ALAN HENDERSON has told ABC radio Ms ERREY's
position was only terminated when she failed to return to work after using up all her
leave.

He says the department knew she was uncomfortable working with matters dealing with
the Iraq war, and that's why she'd been allowed leave and then offered a position which
didn't directly involve her preparing advice on the Iraq war.

Ms ERREY, who was defence adviser to former Australian Democrats leader MEG LEES, says
she felt unable to return to work while the situation in Iraq remained unresolved and
while she felt the government was still lying to the public.

AAP RTV mfh/jmt

KEYWORD: ERREY (CANBERRA)

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