A UN committee has found Australia violated former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks' human rights, with his lawyer calling it an appalling abuse of one of its own citizens. UN Human Rights Committee chairman Fabian Salvioli said Mr Hicks had a sentence imposed on him as the result of a "flagrant denial of justice". The Law Council of Australia says the decision needs to be given serious consideration by the government. The findings came after a complaint brought by Mr Hicks regarding his treatment by Australia. The UN cannot compel the Australian government to take any action.