Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It is certainly the government’s intention to provide a full and comprehensive response to the recommendations. I think it is a little gratuitous for a Greens senator to stand up and make a complaint about not responding in the three-day time period for the initial report. I am extremely proud and in fact I had the honour of leading the Australian delegation at Australia’s UPR on behalf of the Attorney-General, Mr McClelland, who was needed here in Australia in his role with regard to the flood response.

The recommendations made to Australia through the course of our UPR process are under full consideration. I know that the various NGOs and those who are interested in the issues relating to Australia’s human rights record would appreciate that a comprehensive and thoughtful response at the appropriate time is in fact the best possible position for the Australian government to take. There were many recommendations made. It should be said that the serious progress that has been made under the federal Labor government was widely acknowledged by members of the UN Human Rights Council. I was extremely proud to be able to relay to the Human Rights Council our substantive progress in human rights issues across a number of fronts.

Question agreed to.