The Australian lower house of parliament has passed a bill that will punish those who break UN sanctions. It is ten years since allegations first surfaced that AWB might have been bribing Saddam Hussein.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said:
"I reject the suggestion the government has been slow in its response to the threat of money laundering or terrorist financing.
The government, of course, remains committed to ensuring that Australian businesses uphold our international obligations in relation to trade sanctions and combating foreign bribery.
Contravention of UN sanctions and bribery of foreign officials will not be tolerated."
AWB's $300M kickbacks to Saddam were uncovered after the government set up the Cole Commission.
The bill adds a new offence to the 1945 Charter of the United Nations Act which makes it illegal to break an Australian law which enforces UN sanctions, and creates a separate criminal offence for providing false or misleading information relating to sanctions.
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