Australian police investigate cabinet leak

Updated May 30, 2008 14:48:05

The FuelWatch scheme is designed to keep a check on prices and warn motorists in advance of a change in fuel prices. [ABC]

Australia's Community and Public Sector Union has described the leak of cabinet information about the government's Fuelwatch program as reckless, but says the prime minister is also inflaming the situation.

The FuelWatch scheme is designed to keep a check on prices and warn motorists in advance of a change in fuel prices.

The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has indicated he believes the leak came from the bureaucracy.

Stephen Jones from the CPSU has condemned the leak, and says it puts the public service in a very difficult position.

"It really does undermine the fundamental basis of the relationship between the government and public service which is one of trust, and being able to give frank and fearless advice," he said.

But Mr Jones says Mr Rudd has been unnecessarily inflammatory towards the public service, and budget cuts mean they can not be expected to work even longer hours.

The leak of departmental advice which was critical of the government's policy is now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

Australia's federal attorney general, Robert McClelland, says it is appropriate to bring in the police to investigate a leaking of cabinet documents.

Mr McClelland says leaks can undermine the integrity of the public service.

"In the context where we expect and want the public service to give frank and fearless advice, and specifically by way of co-ordination comments that they make on cabinet papers, the fact that these coordination comments have been leaked risks undermining that culture that's been a very very important part of our political system," he said.