Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

29 March 2001

Gaisford Settlement

There have been a number of gross inaccuracies in recent reporting on the dispute between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Alastair Gaisford.

The terms of settlement of the dispute are confidential, in accordance with accepted practice.  The Department respects the confidentiality of the settlement, but feels compelled to correct two key factual errors in recent reporting on this matter:

Firstly, speculation about the cost to the taxpayer of the legal proceedings is wildly inaccurate.

Secondly, it is not correct that Mr Gaisford had on two previous occasions offered to settle the case with the Department.

The Department has acted responsibly and in the taxpayer's interest in resolving the dispute through mediation.

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