Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

First, in relation to the United States, the United States is not a party to the Rome statute. The Rome statute, which established, or gives effect to, the International Criminal Court was, in fact, ratified by the Howard government in 2002. Since Mr Howard ratified the Rome statute we have as a country respected the International Criminal Court. This is because it is in our interests as a nation for international law to be upheld. So I would again say to you, Senator, that our position is that we respect the independence of the international court and its important role in upholding international law.