Julian McGauran (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

For those who are listening to these proceedings on broadcast, I should explain that this is a period—known as ‘take note of answers’—of some half an hour when the government, the opposition and the minor parties get a chance to debate answers given during the Senate’s one-hour question time. It is an important period, particularly for oppositions. It gives them an extra chance to drive home their point, their theme, that they set up during question time. But I would have to say that I have been taking note of answers for many a year now, and this would have to be the most contemptible take note of answers from the opposition that I have ever known.

They come in here and feign compassion for Mr Hicks, who has been stuck for some five years in Guantanamo Bay. They raised at least four questions on the matter, and yet they have not raised the matter here in taking note of answers. And it really gets worse. I endorse everything that my colleague Senator Ronaldson said: the Labor Christmas party must be on, because it just got worse. Not only have they chosen not to raise the theme of their question time, which is a serious matter—particularly for the family—and a cause that they have apparently taken up. Not only have they decided not to raise it in taking note of answers, but they never intended to. We heard the mishmash address by Senator Lundy, but I can tell you that Senator Polley just made it worse. She had prepared her speech. This was a set-up. They never intended to raise the issue of Mr Hicks in Guantanamo Bay.

What was all that about? You had your speech prepared early this morning, Senator Polley. You were never going to raise the matter of Mr Hicks. It just got more contemptible. I say to Senator Ronaldson, if he is listening: it just got worse than what you believed it to be. Mr Deputy President, I have got to tell you that the government are of late most concerned about the Hicks issue—to the point where they have raised it with the President of the United States and have said that this man’s trial ought to be brought on. Yes, he has been in Guantanamo Bay for too long without trial. We have raised that with the President of the United States.

We show a political genuineness. We understand the elevation of this issue in the community; you do not. We have been genuine from day one. What I say about Mr Hicks is that he was caught with a gun in his hand, he did return to Afghanistan post September 11 and, apparently, he did train with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. There is enough circumstantial evidence for the Americans to believe that he should be charged, but they ought to charge him and get on with the trial quickly. That has been our genuineness. That is what we have raised with the Americans—and you cannot come into this chamber and sustain the argument. If I were Mr Hicks, I would be very worried about the Labor Party’s support and ability to sustain their interest. Instead of the Hicks issue, they came in here and raised the issue of the Bald Hills wind farm and the orange-bellied parrot—which time does not permit me to get on to. That is what you have raised in this motion to take note of answers. You have made a mockery of it. You have disgraced yourself.

You have elected a new leader this week who purports to bring in change and a fresh approach to the Labor Party. Where are the issues on the economy that you want to bring in? What do you think you lost the last election on? It was your credibility with regard to economics. You do not discuss that; you discuss the yellow-bellied parrot. Where is the IR issue that you are going to make the centrepiece for the next election? You do not bring in that issue; you discuss the yellow-bellied parrot. This has been one of the most disgraceful motions to take note of answers. All I can say is: thank goodness for Senator Stott Despoja. I am going to stay and listen to her address on Mr Hicks. We should all have an equal concern with regard to the delay in that trial. There are reasons given as to why that trial has been delayed as long as it has, but if you have a serious concern about it raise it in this chamber and use this period as an opportunity to do so. Senator Stott Despoja, I invite you to address the matter of Mr Hicks in Guantanamo Bay. (Time expired)