Today The Australian reported that Australian David Hicks' was beaten at least three times by American soldiers in Afghanistan. John Howard was dismissive of the story, questioning why the story has only broken now. Hicks' Australian lawyer Steven Kenny told The Wire that he was unable to talk about the issue before now, but says the claims are true. He says John Howard must request from the Red Cross and from American authorities all the reports related to Hicks' treatment in custody.

Today marks the two year anniversary of East Timorese independence. But by refusing to seriously negotiate the maritime boundary betwen Australia and East Timor, the Federal Government is making it impossible for the East Timorese government to plan for the country's long term future. Andrew Liberts spoke to James Ensor from Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.

Before independence in 1975, the lower half of Papua New Guinea, Papua, was an Australian territory. This meant that people born there were Australian citizens, like people born now into Northern Territory or the ACT. A group has formed called Denied Australian Papuans, who are arguing that they are in fact still Australian citizens because they were never given the chance to choose between their Australian birth and the new nation of PNG. Leading the charge is Jonathan Baure - who seems to have won the attention of Australian authorities. Jay Lamey spoke to him and Citizenship Law expert Kim Rubenstein.

War Correspondents spend their lives looking at horros that most of us will never have to see. And sometimes they have to choose between recording what's happening and actually helping. Denise Leith has written a new book entitled Bearing Witness that explores the lives and the minds of war correspondens and photojournalists. She spoke to Annie Hastwell.

Women rights in the Middle East were given a boost earlier this week when Kuwait's Council of Ministers approved a bill giving women the right to vote. Andrea Johansen talked to Middle East expert Dr John Bruni about the changing role of women in the gulf region.