In the wake of Queensland photographer Nigel Brennan's ordeal, shackled to the floor for years in Somalia, the Senate has agreed to a Greens' move for an inquiry and to help Australians kidnapped in the future, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
Greens Leader Bob Brown's motion passed the Senate on Thursday. He moved:
That the following matters be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 September 2011:
(a) the effectiveness of the Australian Government's response to Australian citizens who are kidnapped and held for ransom overseas, including but not limited to the response of the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the consular assistance in the relevant country;
(b) how the Australian Government's response in these situations compares to the approach taken by other countries;
(c) measures that could be taken by the Australian Government to improve the handling of its assistance to Australian citizens and their families; and
(d) any other related matter.
"Brennan's ordeal, graphically detailed in his book The Price of Life being released tomorrow, points to Australia needing to do better for any of its citizens caught in this horror predicament in future. If the inquiry can help in this way, it will be very worthwhile," Senator Brown said.