Appendix 5

Terms of Reference for the Independent review of the Nigel Brennan kidnapping in Somalia (McCarthy review)

Review the decisions taken by the Australian Government in regard to the overall handling of the case, including but not limited to:

• the application of our policy not to pay ransoms;
• communications with, and advice, assistance and information given to the Brennan family and their chosen agents;
• operation of the Inter-Departmental Emergency Task Force (IDETF) and the structure of cooperation with other government agencies both in Australia and Nairobi;
• interaction with the Canadian Government; and
• the Government’s interaction with third party intermediaries

Interested not only in determining whether the case was handled as well as it could be, but also in the implications of this case for any future kidnapping.

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