Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The submission by Senator Ludwig is quite extraordinary and it is a failure of responsibility by this government. The events at Abu Ghraib drew worldwide condemnation because they were in breach of international laws and because they happened under the presidency of George W Bush, who had invaded Iraq to uphold international law.

The minister is right: there were some very limited inquiries back in 2005—which he knows was six years ago—which did not involve, for example, a proper inquiry using the knowledge of Major O'Kane, let alone American participants in Abu Ghraib. We also know that the requests from the Leader of the Democrats in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, for Major O'Kane—as the Australian involved in these events—were turned down. So there has been a denial by Australian governments to have this matter properly canvassed. Now there is a whole bank of new information coming from the Sydney Public Advocacy Centre, and that information makes the situation all the more important to inquire into. I am amazed that this government does not support this proper move for an independent inquiry, with judicial function, into this matter to open it up and put it to rest. Question put:

That the motion (Senator B Brown's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [15:53]

(The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Parry)

Question negatived.