Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) (a) 5 visits, including one stopover (not including transits);

(b) The records of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Office of the Foreign Minister indicate that the Minister has not had any meetings with the Sunland Group or anyone claiming to represent Sunland. This has been checked against the list of Sunland executives as provided by DFAT. It is estimated that Sunland has up to 1,000 employees;

(c) No;

(d) None;

(e) (i) – (iv) The Minister has no record or recollection of any meeting with members or representatives of these families with Soheil Abedian also in attendance;

  (v) No;

(f) No.

(2) Mr Rudd made representations on the case to the UAE Foreign Minister on 9 June 2011. These representations have been followed up by Mr Rudd's staff as well as the Australian Embassy in the UAE.

(3) The Minister has been briefed in general terms on the cases of Mr Joyce and Mr Lee.

(4) Through respective legal representatives, the transcript of the civil court case in Victoria has been brought to the attention of relevant authorities in the UAE.