Prime Minister John Howard was asked to write and submit a statement in regard to this matter, and was "cross examined" on 13 April for 53 minutes. Howard previously stated to a media conference held in Sydney, "If asked I will naturally be happy to appear." "I've said all along that this is an utterly transparent process, which is not protecting the Government, which is designed to get to the truth of this matter and I am more than happy to comply with the request made by the commission."