Andrews, believed to be the last high-profile player to give evidence at the inquiry, chaired by former Supreme Court judge John Clarke, will face the questions behind closed doors and details will not be made public, AAP reported today.

One of Haneef’s lawyers, Rod Hodgson, said he hoped the former minister would be forthcoming and truthful about his involvement in the affair.

“Unfortunately the flawed process of an inquiry without legislative ... coercive powers, means that we do not get the opportunity to question Andrews,” Hodgson said, adding that “We do not have the opportunity to hear him give evidence and we do not get the opportunity to cross examine him.

“It’s flawed and there’s a real risk that because of those flaws Andrews will not be subject to the same rigorous scrutiny that might occur if other people had the opportunity to question him,” he said.

Former attorney-general Philip Ruddock, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty and ASIO director-general Paul O’sullivan have already been part of the inquiry, which is due to submit its report in one month.

The inquiry was set up by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government.