Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am interested in the new face of Labor. I am not sure that Senator Marshall is entirely on message with what Mr Rudd is putting out. To allege that these statements are rubbish is complete nonsense and Senator Marshall knows it. Let me state this very clearly: the Australian government treats any allegation about the abuse of any Australian detainee overseas with the utmost seriousness. The Australian government has pursued the allegations referred to by Senator Stott Despoja of mistreatment of Mr Hicks and, at the government’s request, there have been two US investigations into the allegations. Neither revealed any evidence of abuse.

The United States government has consistently maintained that it is treating the detainees humanely and in a manner consistent with its international obligations under the principles of the Geneva convention. The Australian government has also provided over $300,000 of taxpayers’ money to fund Australian legal consultants to assist in Mr Hicks’s defence.

Senator Stott Despoja and I are in agreement that action must be taken in relation to David Hicks. However, while the senator would see him returned in a circumstance where he cannot face trial in Australia, I and the government would instead see the allegations against him tested. I believe this is a very serious matter. I believe that the government has expressed its frustration about the time this has taken.