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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daniel Hurst

Dutton is demanding Australia resist ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders – and a Howard-era law could help him

Peter Dutton shaking John Howard's hand
Peter Dutton and former PM John Howard in 2022. The opposition leader has threatened to cut ties with the ICC as it prepares to issue arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

In 2002, a little-known backbencher by the name of Peter Dutton rose in parliament to ask the then prime minister, John Howard, about a new mechanism for prosecuting war crimes.

The newly elected member for Dickson’s dixer to Howard was straightforward: “What is the basis of the government’s decision to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court?”

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