The purpose of this statement is to put on record the nature and purpose of my contact with Bender family and deny absolutely that I had any involvement in an attempt to dissuade the Bender family from retaining Mr Collaery.

Within hours of the death of Katie I was contacted by Mr Mirko Skrnjug in his capacity as President of the Croatian National Congress (ACT Branch). Mr Skrnjug asked me to accompany him to visit the Bender family to offer condolences on behalf of the Croatian community and to offer any assistance that the Croatian community could provide. Neither Mr Humphries nor anyone from his office was informed that I was going to visit the Bender family; nor did they ask me to do so.

While we were in the Bender home Mr Skrnjug and I offered our condolences and said to the Bender family that if there was anything we could do for them that they should let us know. I left my contact details with Mr Bender's daughter, Anna.

Mr Skrnjug and I left together and had a conversation outside the Bender family home, where Mr Skrnjug suggested that I should come back later to see the Bender family, to see whether they would like the Croatian community to do anything for them. Mr Skrnjug thought that at that time the initial shock might have passed and they would be better able to consider what assistance they might need.

On that basis I went to see the Benders a few days later. I felt somewhat uncomfortable going alone because of the nature of the tragedy they had suffered so I asked Y to come with me. She is my parents next-door neighbour and very close friend of the Bender family.

When we arrived we sat and talked to Mr Bender. During our conversation I said to Mr Bender words to the effect that if there was anything that the Croatian community could do to help him and his family he should let us know. Y within my hearing had a separate conversation -