Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak to the human rights implications of recent violence in Iran. In doing so, reflecting on the previous speaker: every moment in time is unique. Whilst I appreciate he feels compelled to make the argument of his side, given their poor track record and given the large percentage of people of Iranian descent in his electorate, let's be real: if you aren't prepared to accept the lack of action by those opposite when they were in government, like this is all new, like the Revolutionary Guard is new and that its behaviour couldn't possibly have been predicted, then not taking those steps along the line is negligent.

The previous speaker wasn't in the Abbott, Morrison or Turnbull governments. However, it's important not to whitewash history. It is not a partisan view; it is a bipartisan view that we have all been moved in this place by the bravery of the Iranian people and appalled by the brutality of the regime towards its own citizens as the violence has escalated. The people of Iran have not given up hope as they courageously demand full respect for their human rights despite those threats that are against them. So I think I can confidently say that, across the chamber, we stand with the people of Iran. Whilst Iranian security forces persist with draconian methods to ruthlessly suppress peaceful protesters, including the use of lethal force and senseless violence against women and children that is obviously absolutely abhorrent, I share the deep concerns of those in my community in Darwin and Palmerston and around the country.

Nothing can justify these shameful actions, which have included execution of protesters by the regime. Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, for all people everywhere. We have been integral to building pressure on Iran internationally and were at the forefront of efforts to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women. Australia advocated for the successful Human Rights Council resolution for the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations in Iran, and the Australian government has consistently and forcefully raised our concerns directly with Iran. Our government has summoned Iran's representative in Canberra on numerous occasions, and our ambassador has made representations in Tehran, including directly to the deputy foreign minister. These are concrete actions.

Australia will continue to raise concerns directly with Iran's representative in Canberra, through our embassy in Tehran and in multilateral forums. We have called out Iran internationally, jointly, with partners and in those multilateral forums, most recently at the Human Rights Council in Geneva earlier this month, where Assistant Foreign Minister Watts condemned Iran's brutal repression of protesters and its ongoing systematic discrimination against women and girls.

Our government, the Albanese government, is working deliberately and strategically to apply pressure to the Iranian regime. We have imposed Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions on 22 individuals and three entities over their involvement in the Iranian regime's abhorrent, flagrant and continued human rights violations. Today the foreign minister announced Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions on 14 Iranian individuals and 14 Iranian entities over their involvement in the Iranian regime's abhorrent, flagrant and continued human rights violations. Among those subject to Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions are Iran's morality police, the Basij Resistance Force, and senior law enforcement and military figures, including those within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC is a malignant actor that has long been a threat to international security and to its own people. The Gillard government understood this and put broad based sanctions on the IRGC as a whole in 2010. The Albanese government has also recognised the threat.

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