Senate Privileges Committee finds evidence on Habib's rendition is "not acceptable."

"I am pleased that the Senate Privileges Committee found that the conflicting evidence about Mamdour Habib's rendition given to the Senate by ASIO, AFP and the Attorney General's Department is not acceptable," Senator Nettle said.

"The committee has acknowledged that evidence provided by ASIO to Senate inquiry was definite about Mr Habib's rendition to Egypt while the evidence of the AFP and the Attorney General's was 'equivocal'.

"While the committee has concluded this does not constitute contempt, it clearly remains of concern to me and to the committee that one arm of the government can say one thing while another is less than forth coming.

"The government knew more about Mr Habib's rendition to Egypt than they acknowledged at the time and they failed to act to prevent his rendition.

"We have still got to get to the bottom of this matter.

"I will continue to pursue this matter with security agencies in estimates later this month.

"The public needs to know what our government knew about Mamdour Habib's rendition to Egypt and what, if anything, did about it.

"This remains a shameful moment in the actions of the Howard government and our security agencies."

Contact - Damien Lawson 0419 253 342 or Jon Edwards 0428 213 146

[via Senator Kerry Nettle Media Release Thursday 15 May 2008 link]