Russell Broadbent (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for informing me. I was only listening to what you were saying. It will please you no end that I was listening to what you were saying. In this case, as the member points out to me, they have been charged in their absence. Therefore, it is the intention of that regime to have an effect on what is happening with the diaspora here in Australia. I want to make the point that allegations such as these are inappropriate when they feed back into our sovereign nation. It should be known by those regimes that they have no right, no human right, to convict these people, as residents of Australia, in absentia.

I just want to defend the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I know it's fun to make personal attacks on ministers in this House and to suggest that they do not perform, but the fact is that, as you have just addressed, we care so much about the Cambodia people—not the regime, the Cambodian people—we are prepared as a nation to invest $35 million into their health and wellbeing around COVID. But I don't want to run out of time, because there's a lot to say on this issue.

I've been in and out of this place since 1990, more out than in. Recently I've stayed for a while. It's been at least a comfortable visit over the last few years! To my knowledge, in the times that I've been overseas—and I haven't been there with any of the members in the room at the moment—we have been highly regarded for our efforts in regard to human rights wherever we go. When I've been on delegations, they've thanked us for the efforts the nation has put in on behalf of especially minorities in countries. They know Australia cares. They know we take an interest. They know we do it at every level of our activity, at the top ministerial level, even at the prime ministerial level, at the cabinet ministerial level and the junior ministerial level, but especially at the DFAT level.

I've had occasion to interact with DFAT personnel outside of the structures of this parliament, particularly the committees, where I think they are inhibited, restricted and controlled as to what they can say and how they can say it, because they're following a strict departmental line. But when you meet them at a social gathering and are able to have a discussion about what they do, they're invigorated and excited about their work. Most parliamentarians never even find out what DFAT does. They wouldn't have a clue how effective our foreign interactions are on behalf of our nation. It's always an eye-opener to me how effective our foreign ministry is. I thank them, I applaud them and I honour them for the work that they do on our behalf, and I hope that they continue with everything that's been outlined here. I have a list of what we've done in regard to human rights regarding Cambodia.

This nation actually cares. We don't want these types of things to happen again. I applaud the motion from the member for Bruce. I support him in his work on behalf of the diaspora here in Australia. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this issue.

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