After hanging up from Bill, Max Hobbs, telephoned the Jabiru Police Station and spent half an hour on the phone trying to get hold of anyone who could actually help him. Frustrated, he rang the mobile number of Sergeant Neville Barker, who he knew from previous contacts, and repeated the message from Bill Stafford. The sergeant listened intently, jotted down some notes, said he knew Bill and had met Jake. He advised Hobbs that he would pass the information on to the Task Force and get back to him.
Barker immediately went over to the Jabiru Court House where the Task Force had been set up, asked the receptionist to see John Fisher, the AFP Commissioner. She advised Fisher was in conference with his advisers, and couldn’t be interrupted but he could talk to the Task Force’s Liaison Officer, Jim Williams, the Defence Attaché at the Australian Embassy in Japan. Williams came out and Barker relayed the information from Jake Stafford.
“We have nothing that indicates there was any involvement by a Chinese group. Our priority is to check out ISIS sympathisers. I know Jake Stafford and he lacks credibility. He is a friend of one of the leaders of the aboriginal protest group we are investigating.”
“But I’m sure this is genuine. I’ve met Jake Stafford and know his father and they don’t seem to be the types who would make up crazy stories,” protested the sergeant.
“Look we’re chasing dozens of leads at the moment and this has less credibility than most of them. We’ll follow it up but it’s not our first priority,” replied Williams brusquely as he showed Barker the door.