Cole Inquiry

This article is about the royal commission into the involvement by certain Australian companies in the UN Oil-For-Food Programme. For the royal commission into the building industry, also headed by Justice Cole, see the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.

Cole Inquiry
Also known asAWB oil-for-wheat scandal
Outcome5 Recommendations in the Final Report
Inquiries
CommissionerJustice Terence Cole AO RFD QC
Inquiry period10 November 2005 (2005-11-10) – 27 November 2006 (2006-11-27)
Constituting instrumentRoyal Commissions Act 1902[1]
Websitewww.oilforfoodinquiry.gov.au

The Cole Inquiry, formally the Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme, was a Royal Commission established by the Australian government pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902 to investigate "whether decisions, actions, conduct or payments by Australian companies mentioned in the Volcker Inquiry into the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme breached any Federal, State or Territory law."

The inquiry commenced on 10 November 2005 and was overseen by a sole Royal Commissioner, Justice Terence Cole AO RFD QC. Justice Cole handed the commission's five volume report to the Governor-General on 24 November 2006; and the report was tabled in parliament on 27 November 2006.

  1. ^ Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth)