Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 6 August 2012:

(1) Given that the Australian Government has previously stated it 'will further support, at home and abroad, global efforts to improve governance and financial transparency in the resources sector' and as part of this support, the Government in 2011 announced it would undertake a pilot of the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, can an update be provided on the pilot.

(2) Given that the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case known as Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., is considering whether a law of the United States of America (US) – the Alien Tort Statute – applies to corporate human rights abuses that have taken place in countries other than the US, will the Australian Government intervene by filing an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States; if so, what will be the Government's position.

(3) Has the Australian Government consulted with Australian businesses about this case and/or its position on this case.

(4) Have Australian companies, individuals or other entities asked the Australian Government to intervene in this case.

(5) Has the Australian Government consulted with any other stakeholders or outside groups, such as human rights organisations or those whose human rights have been affected by corporate operations, about intervening in this case or Australia's position on this case.

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

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

(1) The Australian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) pilot has been under way since October 2011. A multi-stakeholder group comprising government, industry and non-government organisation representatives has been established to provide guidance on how the pilot will proceed in testing EITI in the Australian context. An Administrator for the pilot has also been appointed.

(2) No

(3) Yes

(4) One company indicated that it would welcome the submission of an amicus curiae brief by the Government.

(5) No