Blue Line: Response to West Australian article titled "Kidnap fear for missing father"

Release Date: Friday, October 08 2010, 12:12 PM

An article in the West Australian newspaper titled 'Kidnap fear for missing father' on Friday 8 October claims the Australian Federal Police refused to answer questions on the matter.  This is inaccurate and misleading.

As is standard protocol in Australian Whole-of-Government situations, the AFP advised the journalist well before publishing deadlines that the questions were best directed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Consular matters such as Australian citizens arrested abroad or being victims of crime are matters for DFAT.  Enquiries made to the AFP regarding consular matters will be referred to DFAT in the first instance.