House debates Questions in Writing
United Nations: Security Council Bid (Question No. 346)
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 24 March 2011:
(1) Did any representative from an African Union country express support for Australia's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council; if so, which ones.
(2) Did any representative from an African Union country indicate that their country was unlikely to support Australia's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council; if so, which ones, and what reason(s) were given.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:
United Nations Security Council elections are decided by secret ballot. Accordingly, as is usual practice, we do not reveal the voting intentions of individual countries.