But he says neither the Australian nor United States governments are at fault.
Mr Howard is travelling to the U-S for a series of talks with the U-S President George W Bush and says the Australian government wants Mr Hicks brought to trial as quickly as possible.
He says a court challenge in the US is to blame for the Military Commission trial being held up.
Mr Howard says the trial is essential before there can be any discussion about whether Mr Hicks can return to Australia.
Adelaide-born Mr Hicks has recently become a British citizen in the hope he might be released under the British governments agreement over Guantanamo Bay detainees.
He was captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001 and has been held at the detention facility on Cuba since January 2002.