# Dutton denies deliberately keeping himself in dark over fake caravan terror plot

Questions linger over who attended key online meeting on 30 January with Australian federal police and language used by Dutton afterwards

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Peter Dutton did not personally attend a federal police briefing one day after the Dural caravan plot was publicly revealed, but he has denied claims he “deliberately” kept himself in the dark on key details indicating it was a “fake terrorism plot” orchestrated by organised crime.

In a stern rebuke on Tuesday, the opposition leader accused the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, of lying and “trying to find political opportunity out of a national security issue” after Burke earlier said Dutton had not taken up the offer of a briefing.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

On 29 January, 10 days after police discovered the caravan, The Daily Telegraph reported its story on the caravan containing 29 explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius.

Guardian Australia understands the opposition requested an online briefing with the federal police on 30 January, which was attended by the Berowra MP Julian Leeser and the senators Michaelia Cash and James Paterson.

It’s understood a security adviser from Dutton’s office said they would attend on behalf of the opposition leader’s office, but did not register for the briefing, nor appear on the screen when it began.

However, Dutton’s office insists a staff member was present for that briefing, despite no apparent record.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

On 29 January, 10 days after police discovered the caravan, The Daily Telegraph reported its story on the caravan containing 29 explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius.

Guardian Australia understands the opposition requested an online briefing with the federal police on 30 January, which was attended by the Berowra MP Julian Leeser and the senators Michaelia Cash and James Paterson.

It’s understood a security adviser from Dutton’s office said they would attend on behalf of the opposition leader’s office, but did not register for the briefing, nor appear on the screen when it began.

However, Dutton’s office insists a staff member was present for that briefing, despite no apparent record.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

On 29 January, 10 days after police discovered the caravan, The Daily Telegraph reported its story on the caravan containing 29 explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius.

Guardian Australia understands the opposition requested an online briefing with the federal police on 30 January, which was attended by the Berowra MP Julian Leeser and the senators Michaelia Cash and James Paterson.

It’s understood a security adviser from Dutton’s office said they would attend on behalf of the opposition leader’s office, but did not register for the briefing, nor appear on the screen when it began.

However, Dutton’s office insists a staff member was present for that briefing, despite no apparent record.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

On 29 January, 10 days after police discovered the caravan, The Daily Telegraph reported its story on the caravan containing 29 explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius.

Guardian Australia understands the opposition requested an online briefing with the federal police on 30 January, which was attended by the Berowra MP Julian Leeser and the senators Michaelia Cash and James Paterson.

It’s understood a security adviser from Dutton’s office said they would attend on behalf of the opposition leader’s office, but did not register for the briefing, nor appear on the screen when it began.

However, Dutton’s office insists a staff member was present for that briefing, despite no apparent record.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

On 29 January, 10 days after police discovered the caravan, The Daily Telegraph reported its story on the caravan containing 29 explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius.

Guardian Australia understands the opposition requested an online briefing with the federal police on 30 January, which was attended by the Berowra MP Julian Leeser and the senators Michaelia Cash and James Paterson.

It’s understood a security adviser from Dutton’s office said they would attend on behalf of the opposition leader’s office, but did not register for the briefing, nor appear on the screen when it began.

However, Dutton’s office insists a staff member was present for that briefing, despite no apparent record.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in .

The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said “almost immediately” investigators had considered the caravan to be “a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.

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