TONY JONES [ABC Lateline 28/4]: Is it true, as the opposition are claiming, that 2,000 passports simply went missing in the mail during part of that period?

ALEXANDER DOWNER: I don't know about part of that period. We issue a million passports a year. A tiny number - I don't recall the figure, it might be 2,000 - over a period may have gone missing, but it's a tiny percentage. I'm sure it's a lesser percentage than was the case when the opposition was once the government of Australia ...

Never miss an opportunity to lead from the front, eh, Lex? The problem with trying to land one on Labor, is that you are dealing with a shrinking target.

Never mind, the 'fake passports' story is real and scary enough, but it's only a prelude to Mr Ruddock's campaign for his flawed, el-cheapo national ID card scheme. If the Chinese/Burmese/Koreans or whoever, are churning out holographic printers that can fool our current passport system, and they are probably about to churn out fake top-line Nokia phones, will they be able to crack into our databases and create fake ID cards?

Hey T G, I nearly turned off when Downer's interview started. I'm glad I didn't.

He had no idea what he was talking about, revealed a total lack of interest in the 2000 (estimate) missing passports as he was "sure "that they would be returned when people realised they weren't for them. Now why didn't Tony Jones think of that? Obviously the Down was ahead of the game.

As he also was when asked about the Australian convicted of a drugs charge in the Maldives in which Howard had apperently intervened, despite the person apparently not denying the charge. But as Tony ferreted out of the Down, there is no "policy" on this. What they do is wait for a conviction and then make a decision.

That explains why David Hicks hasn't had any support yet I suppose. He hasn't been convicted yet! Regardless of the illegal circumstances of his imprisonment and firm evidence of torture. Let's wait until he is convicted then ring and congratulate George on a job well done. As long as we are consistent in supporting Australians overseas!!

How the hell did the Down ever get into a position like he has. It's worse than an insult to all Australians but somehow he is there. I just don't believe it, even after all this time.