Australia looks set to fill one of two vacancies on the United Nations Human Rights Council following France’s withdrawal from the process, according to recent reports.

The appointment would be the first time Australia’s has joined the body and would come amid criticism of its own human rights record against indigenous people and asylum seekers in offshore detention centers on Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.

“We didn’t use our aid budget, we didn’t make promises we couldn’t keep,” Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was quoted as saying in media reports this week.

“We very much campaigned on our record and how we would act on the Human Rights Council,” she said.

Observers say Australia secured 141 written pledges and more than 20 verbal pledges from 192 U.N. members to back its bid.

Ms Bishop’s office said it could not confirm Australia had been guaranteed a spot.

“We are looking forward to making a positive contribution ahead of October’s announcement of the council’s composition,” a spokesperson for Ms Bishop said.

The UN has previously criticised Australia’s treatment of its indigenous peoples, with a report from its special rapporteur, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, due in September.

The report, on her 15-day visit in March, reviewed the impact of laws surrounding the government’s 2007 intervention aimed at curbing alcohol abuse, domestic violence and improving the health of indigenous Australians in remote communities.

France’s foreign ministry announced its withdrawal in a statement on Thursday that backed Spain’s bid for the second vacancy.

Australia has also come under criticism for its treatment of asylum seekers detained on Manus Island and Nauru.

Laurie Nowell
AMES Australia Senior Journalist