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

Can I say at the outset that the government takes its obligation in this matter very seriously. It is a requirement to address the UN committee. I have no further information other than that the government's response to the submission was due to be lodged with the Human Rights Committee in May but this has been delayed until the third quarter of 2011. I will undertake to seek from the Attorney-General whether or not he will provide any additional information and some further explanation for the senator in respect of the delay until the third quarter of 2011. I do not have anything in the current brief which advises me of the reasons for the delay—whether it is a procedural matter or whether it is due to a range of factors that I do not want to speculate on. I will seek that additional information.