Investigation of Western Women slammed

The Pike Committee investigating the Western Women Affair was a political sham with no interest in distinguishing between fact and fiction, Education Minister Kay Hallahan said today.

Mrs Hallahan said it was a disgrace that the committee today distributed to media an unsigned, unsourced, undated and handwritten anonymous note which made allegations about her former role as Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests.

"One would think that the committee would attempt to establish the authenticity of the document and the accuracy of the allegations it contains if it was concerned about being impartial or objective," Mrs Hallahan said.

"At no stage while I was Minister did I ever receive complaints of financial impropriety on the part of Western Women, nor did I receive a recommendation to terminate Western Women's services through WIRE.

"If there had been such complaints, Western Women's association with WIRE would have been terminated in an instant."

Mrs Hallahan said the committee's behaviour brought the entire Parliament into disrepute.

"Far from assisting people who lost their money with the collapse of Western Women, the Pike Committee has embarked on a political campaign."