Illicit trade in native wildlife - witnesses Ando, Plant, Dawson, Green

t7/nj
CCC
WITNESS: - - - so therefore the risk for international
involvement was reduced and therefore we decided to pull the
cameras out. Approximately a week to 2 weeks after those
cameras were pulled out I was advised by CALM that the nests
which we had cameras in had been robbed.
MR HALL: Robbed of the chicks?---Yes.
All right. So in both of those cases you, I take it, believe
that the operations were compromised by some leak of
information?---I do, yes.
In respect of information, do I take it that it's necessary in
order to be effective in regulating this sort of illegal
activity, particularly if you're in a joint operation, to be
able to trust those with whom you're working?---Very much so.
And there needs to be able to be, to the extent necessary, a
free exchange of information between the agencies?---Where
it's legally possible, yes.
Have these past compromises had any effect upon the view of
Customs as to what information it can properly pass - - safely
pass to CALM?---Yes, it has, but it was more a case of who we
pass it to.
Yes?---I believe that what we did was, we tightened our
dissemination to a very select few, and with the understanding
that it would not go any further and that we could control the
operation better that way.
Right. Now, we've heard that there was a search on Mr Philip
Green's premises on the 16th of September 2004. Were you
involved in that search?---I was.
And why was the Customs Service involved?---Australian Customs
Service was conducting an investigation into an organisation
mainly based in the eastern states, but which we believed the
person whose residence we executed warrants on was involved,
and it was in relation to the importation of exotic eggs into
Australia and the collection for - - of eggs for export, both
in contravention of the EPBC Act. And also we believed there
may be some exotics already on - - illegally imported exotics
on the premises.
This was a nation-wide operation?---It was, yes.
And I think there were a number of search warrants also
executed in the eastern states?---That's correct.
Now, on the morning of the 16th of September did you make a
telephone call to Mr Ando?---I did.
23.11.04 M.R. PLANT XN 137
10.32