Senator BROWN (2:43 PM) —My question is also addressed to the Minister for Defence. Within an hour of the first cruise missiles having hit Baghdad and in the hope that they have hit Saddam Hussein rather than innocent civilians in Baghdad, what measures has the government taken to ensure that world conventions to protect civilians will not be breached by the United States in this war? I ask in particular about cluster bombs. Why did the government, including you, Minister, vote this morning for the use of cluster bombs in this war against the tenets of the Geneva convention on war?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —Cluster bombs as such are not outlawed. Australia does not use them and we have a policy position not to use them. Some other nations do use them. That is not an issue of Australian policy. I think I have answered another question on notice on this from the Australian Democrats, or it is in the process of flowing through the system, where we have set out what we say are the shortcomings of cluster bombings in terms of the risks associated with them. That is why we do not believe they are a suitable weapon. That is the position of the Australian government, and we adhere to that position.

Senator BROWN —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Following on from that question to the minister who voted with the government for the use of cluster bombs in breach of the Geneva convention this morning—Senator Nettle's amendment—I ask whether the minister is aware that today lawyers for 41 affiliated organisations including church, humanitarian, civil liberties and union organisations have written to the Prime Minister to say that they will be watching events in Iraq with a view to ensuring that there will be action in the world criminal court, including if necessary against the Prime Minister or others who may be involved—once removed even—in breaches of international law during this conflict, which we are unnecessarily and illegally involved in because of this Prime Minister?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —We did not vote for the use of cluster bombs. We did not vote to seek to impose our will on others. I would have thought that Senator Brown would have applauded the Australian government in this instance for the fact that it does not use cluster bombs and, furthermore, has prohibited the use of them under its rules of engagement. I invite Senator Brown to say in this instance that the Australian government has got it right and we applaud them.

The PRESIDENT —Order! I would remind Senator Hill that answers should be addressed through the chair.