bug-buddy does not respect proxy settings

[Rupert]

Binary package hint: bug-buddy

What happens: When I try to send a bug report with bug-buddy, I obtain the following message:

There has been a network error while sending the report. Do you want to save this report and send it later?
Please ensure that your Internet connection is active and working correctly.

What I expect to happen: The report should be sent.

What I think is going on: my proxy settings are not being observed. The environment variable http_proxy is set in the shell I run bug-buddy from, and I have "manual proxy configuration" settings under System->Preferences->Network Proxy.

$ lsb_release -rd; apt-cache policy bug-buddy
Description: Ubuntu 8.10
Release: 8.10
bug-buddy:
  Installed: 2.24.1dfsg-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 2.24.1dfsg-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 2.24.1dfsg-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://ftp.heanet.ie intrepid/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status