Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer and I understand from his answer that the conditions in Guantanamo Bay are acceptable to the Australian government. I also ask the minister to inquire about the last consular visit—that is the last time before the June visit—the last time David Hicks spoke honestly to consular officials. Is it the case that he was shortly afterwards placed into solitary confinement as a consequence of him speaking honestly about the conditions in which he found himself? Given the minister’s faith in the Guantanamo Bay facilities and the military commission’s process, why is it the case that Australia is prepared to have one of our citizens subject to the military commission’s process when the US government is not having any of its citizens face the military commission’s process?