Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. There were media reports around 21 August that reported details of Mr Hicks's submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and these media reports went to a number of claims in respect of Australia and its human rights obligations. One of the demands was for compensation and an apology from the federal government. The government's response to that submission was, I think as correctly outlined, due to be lodged with the Human Rights Commission in May. But this has been delayed until the third quarter of 2011. It is, I am advised, expected to be released very shortly.

I am aware that Mr Hicks has submitted a communication to the UN Human Rights Committee under the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The government is at this point preparing a comprehensive response to that communication and it will be provided very shortly.

The government acknowledges that there is a wide range of views in the community on this topic and on the allegations made in the communication. I can say that it is for the UN Human Rights Committee to consider the claims raised by Mr Hicks and the government's response to those claims.

Accordingly, in answer to the question about the broader issue, it would not be appropriate for the government to engage in a running commentary outlining some of the issue raised today. We will be providing a comprehensive response to this matter—