[Greens-Media] Senate to vote on setting up an inquiry into Government knowledge of Habib rendition

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Senate to vote on setting up an inquiry into Government knowledge of
Habib rendition 


17.09.07

Australia's Senate will tomorrow determine if allegations that
Australian citizen Mr Mamdouh Habib was rendered to Egypt to be tortured
with the full knowledge of Australian authorities warrants an
investigation by the powerful Senate Privileges Committee, Greens
Senator Kerry Nettle said today. 

"The Senate has an obligation to clear the air. We need to know how deep
Australian authorities were involved in the alleged rendition of an
Australian citizen", Senator Nettle said.

"Equally, we need to establish if the Senate was ever misled by any law
enforcement or government officials.

"In the history of the Senate Privileges Committee, motions to establish
inquiries have only ever been rebuffed once before.

"The time for the Senate to back human rights and to back itself has
arrived." Senator Nettle said 

"Tomorrow the Senate will debate the following matter be referred to the
Committee of Privileges:

Whether false or misleading evidence was given to the Legal and
Constitutional Affairs Committee or any other Senate Committee
concerning the government's knowledge of the rendition of Mr Mamdouh
Habib to Egypt, and whether any contempt was committed in that regard.

NB The Senate will vote on the motion tomorrow on Tuesday 18-9-07.

More information Kristian Bolwell 0411638320 // 02 6277 3501