Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXX After reading the articles in the Australian which quoted a Mr Stuart Gill extensively, I went to the Corporate Affairs Bureau to investigate his alleged company, Hackwatch. I was surprised to learn that it was not registered, and on Thursday, January the 19th, 1989 I registered it. After registering the name `Hackwatch', I rang Margo Towie of The Australian, and explained that I was the registered owner of the name; that I had no connection with Stuart Gill; that I was not aware of any other group acting under this name, and that I would appreciate it if her paper were not to represent him as working for me. We had a discussion lasting about half an hour, in the course of which I explained that I had registered the business name that afternoon; that I had great doubts about Mr Gills legitimacy, and that I bore neither him nor The Australian any animosity. I also gave her the number of my private line (NNN-NNNN) on her request. Approximately half an hour later I received a call from Stuart Gill on that line. I can only presume that Margo Towie gave him my number. He claimed the following: 1) That contrary to reports in the media, `Hackwatch' was a registered trademark, not a business name (it was neither, I checked); 2) That he was employed by an international company based in California (he declined to state its name, however, he has used the name Zartek and DPG Monitoring Services); 3) That we `Both had the same politics'; that he was leading a federal investigation into computer crime and would appreciate my assistance; 4) That he was currently in Sydney, and would be flying down to Melbourne within the next few days. At the close of the conversation he said that he would `check me out', especially with the member of Parliament, Mr Ian McPhee. `If I checked out', he said, he would send me a some information proving his claims. I was somewhat sceptical of his claims, but tentatively willing to accept them at face value. The next day the defamatory messages (attached) started appearing on Zen Bulletin Board, apparently at his instigation. This Bulletin Board is run by a Mr XXXX XXXXXXX (aka Craig Bowen) of XX XXXXXXXX Rd Surrey Hills. For some reason he allowed Stuart Gill to run his system; I do not know what threats or inducements were offered. This is all I know of Stuart Gill; I have been told that it may be a pseudonym - also, that it may not. DPG Monitoring Services does not appear to exist, at least under that name. I do not why The Australian has given credence to his views. The article in The Australian quoted a computer user named `Ivan Trotsky' who made various allegations about me. All I know of this character is that his first name may be XXXXX; that his telephone number is NNN-NNNN; and that he is strongly rumored to have been involved in a great deal of credit fraud. At no time have I ever contracted with him for the supply of any goods or services; I have met him twice, once at a party (Nov. 2nd 1988 I believe), and once at a Bulletin Board users meeting (as I recall, on Sunday 22nd Jan, 1989). I hope this is of some assistance to you, I am Yours sincerely, YYYYYYYYYY [Brett MacMillan]