21 March 2011

280  MR L. D. T. FERGUSON: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs—In the calendar years 2009, 2010 and 2011 (to date), within our Foreign Aid Budget, how many tertiary scholarships were awarded to (a) Indonesian citizens, (b) Indonesian public servants, and (c) people residing in Java.

281  MS J. I. BISHOP: To ask the Minister for Justice—

(1) When he decided on 12 November 2009 to approve the extradition of Australian citizen Mr Charles Zentai to the Republic of Hungary, was he aware of the following information that had been provided to his department and office, that the: (a) Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) had advised the Australian Federal Police (AFP) that there was no evidence to support a charge against Mr Zentai of a war crime (or any other crime); (b) CDPP and the AFP had decided not to prosecute Mr Zentai for the alleged war crime, although if there had have been sufficient evidence to support a charge, it would have been open to the Australian authorities to charge Mr Zentai and have him tried in Australia, rather than extradite him; and (c) Republic of Hungary only wanted Mr Zentai to be extradited for questioning, as no charge has been laid against him.

(2) If so, did he consider this information before approving Mr Zentai’s extradition to Hungary, and what were his reasons for making this determination.

(3) If not, was he made aware of this information after the Hon. Justice Neil McKerracher set aside, in December 2010, the Minister’s determination to extradite Mr Zentai to Hungary, and why did the Minister then authorise an appeal against Justice McKerracher’s decision.

282  MS J. I. BISHOP: To ask the Minister for Justice—Has he ever suggested to the Hungarian authorities that they conduct their questioning of Mr Charles Zentai in Australia; if so, what was their response; if not, why not, particularly given the (a) age and health of Mr Zentai, (b) fact that the Hungarian authorities have said they only want Mr Zentai for questioning; and (c) Mr Zentai has stated that he is prepared to co-operate with investigators and answer questions under oath.

283  MS J. I. BISHOP: To ask the Minister for Justice—What total cost has the Government incurred to date (including departmental personnel time and cost) in seeking to extradite Mr Charles Zentai to the Republic of Hungary, and what total estimated cost will be incurred in appealing the decision of the Hon. Justice Neil McKerracher.