The Australian Greens have condemned the Government and Opposition for approving an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates despite serious concerns about the UAE's human rights record.

Greens legal affairs spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said Australia should not sign extradition treaties with countries not party to international covenants such as the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Senate approved the treaty on Friday after a truncated 15 minute debate, as the clock ran down on the final day of sitting.

The Greens have called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Government to act quickly in response to the Human Rights Consultation Report, to set out a clear agenda protecting people's rights and to introduce a Human Rights Act.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Human Rights, says the Government must not dither over its response to the report, urging the Prime Minister to show the public that their human rights are protected by more than mere rhetoric.

"The Government must tell the public what it intends to do with these recommendations ahead of the election next year,'' Senator Hanson-Young said. "This report must not be left sitting in the in-tray until the Government deems it appropriate to deal with - we need a timetable now.''

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Federal Government’s introduction of a National Human Rights Consultation, but says that a bill of rights should be among the options considered.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today, on the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, announced that the consultation process would now commence, and be overseen by four independent committee members.

“The Greens welcome the National Human Rights Consultation, as a long overdue step for Australia to take,” she said.