AFP claim leaves Kevin Andrews' defence in tatters

The latest revelation in the Dr Mohamed Haneef visa cancellation affair that the Australian Federal Police had formally told a senior public servant advising the Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews that Dr Haneef was not a threat to Australian security is bad news for the Government and Kevin Andrews in particular.

Despite the continuing implausible protestations by Mr Andrews, the only reasonable conclusion for the Minister's unremitting intransigence over this whole, grubby, political affair is that Kevin Andrews was hoping against hope that Dr Haneef was going to become the "Tampa" of the 2007 election.

What was to be manna from Heaven has turned into a sh*t sandwich for Mr Andrews!

He probably thought that all his political Christmases had come at once and that he alone would save the government at the November election.

Just a little too clever by half, Kevin!

With one Federal Court hearing out of the way - which Mr Andrews lost convincingly - and an appeal due to be heard in mid-November, it could well be Mr Andrews who might be taking centre stage responsibility for the Liberals' upcoming election loss, if the voters remain intent on punishing the Government for expelling an innocent man from Australia.