UN investigator briefed Downer on AWB

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has confirmed he was
briefed on allegations against AWB a month before the UN oil-for-food inquiry
handed down its report.

It has been revealed Mr Downer met the UN oil-for-food
investigator Paul Volcker in New York in September last year.

Mr Volcker informed the Mr Downer of allegations raised against
Australia's wheat exporter AWB regarding its contracts in Iraq. 

Mr Downer says there was not a great deal to the meeting.