He said the government is seeking advice on how to fulfill a pre-electiom commitment to conduct the probe into the case involving Haneef, who was exonerated of terror charges in connection with failed UK terror plot after being detained for three weeks in July.

The case triggered a diplomatic row and embarrassed the previous John Howard government. But Rudd denied the government was ‘raking over the coals’ and said the inquiry was necessary to ensure anti-terrorism legislation was kept accountable.

"What we're on about is establishing the facts," the Labour leader, who ended Howards 11-year reign, was quoted as saying by media.

"We want to make sure that with these tough anti-terrorism laws that we've got in Australia that we've got the proper institutional arrangements necessary for their enforcement and the proper checks and balances as well," he said.

Australian Federal Police, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and the then Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews came under sustained criticism following a number of blunders in the case highlighted by the media.

Haneef was arrested at Brisbane Airport on July 2, shortly after the failed UK terrorist plot, and was granted bail after two weeks. But Andrews cancelled his work visa, prolonging his detention. Haneef was released on July 27 after the charge of recklessly providing support to a terrorist organisation against him was dropped.