Officials only noticed it was missing during a routine recount last week as part of the mandatory second count of all House of Representatives ballot papers.
In his new role, Watts will leverage his extensive diplomatic experience – including visits to India – to strengthen Australia’s regional partnerships.
“The best model I’ve seen is where leaders, former, make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence — so that will be my model.”
It is reported that the first tally was conducted in the presence of Liberal scrutineers and signed off at 10.30pm, while the later revision occurred after most scrutineers had left.
The 18-month investigation, known as Project Bay, uncovered an alleged cross-border trafficking operation that used commercial trucking routes to move massive quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and opium between the United States and Canada.
