The Minister for the Environment, Bill Wood, has been forced to withdraw a request for departmental help in dealing with an election matter because of the caretaker convention. Mr Wood had sought “”factual information” to help respond to an environmental log of claims sent by the Canberra Conservation Council to the Labor Party and other parties and candidates. A departmental spokesperson said the department had prepared policy material for an incoming government in accordance with caretaker conventions, but this was not for use till after the election. The Minister had separately requested factual information in connection with the log of claims, not analysis or judgments “”and this request has now been withdrawn”. Details of the log were published last week. It contained about 100 points of conservation, planning and other policy. The president of council, Jacqui Rees, said the log of claims was a political document issued in the context of the campaign. The Minister should not have asked his department to help answer it. “”It was unambiguously for parties and candidates,” she said. “”It was not a request for specific information that required departmental input. It is an example of Mr Wood not comprehending his ministerial responsibilities. Senior bureaucrats should have immediately refused to handle it. But it was only when more junior bureaucrats contacted us that the impropriety of the request acknowledged.” Mr Wood said, “”It is an excessively fine point, but to ensure protocol is absolutely observed I have withdrawn the request.” He had only sought facts. He said he still had a request to answer media inquiries and still had a big in-tray. These would require departmental help to work out the facts of any case. Ms Rees said there was no problem with individual matters being dealt with; but the log was a general policy and political document in the context of an election campaign.