Senate debates
Thursday, 9 November 2006
MR David Hicks
10:04 am
Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source
I move:
- That the Senate notes:
- (a)
- that on 28 September 2006 the United States Congress passed the Military Commissions Act 2006;
- (b)
- that on 17 October 2006 President George W Bush signed the Act into law;
- (c)
- that the Act provides a congressional basis for trial by military commission;
- (d)
- that the Act incorporates a number of procedural safeguards including:
- (i)
- the presumption of innocence,
- (ii)
- a right to be present throughout the trial,
- (iii)
- a right to cross-examine prosecution witnesses,
- (iv)
- a ban on evidence obtained by torture,
- (v)
- the provision of military defence counsel,
- (vi)
- the ability to retain civilian defence counsel,
- (vii)
- the option to remain silent or testify at trial,
- (viii)
- standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, and
- (ix)
- an extensive appeals process;
- (e)
- that Mr David Hicks is yet to be charged under the Act; and
- (f)
- that the Government continues to press the United States for Mr Hicks’ case to be dealt with expeditiously and fairly.
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