Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I second the motion and rise to speak on this motion which is of profound significance not only for the people of Cuba but for the very principles of international cooperation and mutual respect amongst nations.

Firstly, I'd like to thank the member for Newcastle for putting up this important motion and commend her work as the current chair of the parliamentary friendship group for Cuba. This motion is an important mark of respect for the relationships that the two countries enjoy. I've had the privilege of serving as chair of the group for many years and currently serve as deputy. It has been and continues to be a great pleasure to grow these diplomatic ties, and I must add my voice to this very important message.

I'd like to acknowledge the overwhelming consensus among member states of the United Nations, which, on 2 November 2023, once again voiced their opposition to the United States's economic sanctions against Cuba. The fact that 186 nations stood in solidarity with Cuba underscores the global sentiment that the time for this embargo—a relic of the Cold War era—has long passed. We must return to the normalisation of relations.

This embargo is more than a bilateral issue between the United States and Cuba; it's a matter that concerns the international community. It contravenes the norms of international law and the charter of the United Nations. The repercussions of this embargo extend beyond the confines of Cuba. It hinders the rights of other nations, including Australia, to engage in basic diplomacy. For instance, the Cuban embassy here in Australia has routinely been denied access to Australian bank accounts and, as a result, has struggled to facilitate payments to local suppliers and contractors. These challenges inequitably disrupt the fundamental diplomatic operations of Cuba. This is absolutely ridiculous.

The Cuban people have, for decades, faced undue economic hardship due to the embargo. The impacts on their health, wellbeing and economic development are well documented and remain deeply concerning. This is a stark reminder of how policies rooted in historical animosities can perpetuate suffering and hinder progress towards a more equitable and just world order. Australia recognises the resilience and spirit of the Cuban people. The love, the joy and the culture that they and their country have to share are remarkable, not to mention the music, the dance, the food, the rum and, of course, the cigars.

In all seriousness, we've witnessed firsthand over decades the perseverance of this nation. Cubans' significant achievements, particularly in health care and education, despite this embargo's constraints are, quite frankly, astonishing. These achievements also amount to significant contributions to the global community, with tens of thousands of Cuban doctors regularly performing miracles around the world. Cuba's educational programs, particularly with respect to improving literacy, have given countless millions of people around the world the gift of being able to read and write. There are few nations around the world that have not felt the positive impact that Cuba has provided. Even here in Australia, we have their literacy programs underway in many disadvantaged communities, including one of our major prisons, through the Literacy for Life Foundation and the work of Professor Jack Beetson and his team. They have been successfully implementing this Cuban style literacy campaign in many areas across Australia with great success. It is incumbent on us as representatives of the Australian people and members of the international community to reaffirm our support for an end to the United States' economic sanctions against Cuba.

In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the three Cuban ambassadors in Australia that I've had the pleasure of working with: Jose Manuel Galego Montano; his successor, Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez; and, of course, the one sitting in the gallery at the moment, the wonderful current ambassador, Her Excellency Tanieris Dieguez La O. Sorry if I pronounced it wrong. I've built up a wonderful relationship with the three of them and their wonderful families. They have made great contributions to the development of ties between our two countries, and I certainly look forward to working on all sides of politics for further development of relations with Cuba and for finally bringing an end to this enduring and unjust embargo.

I will just say in closing that the embargo has been going since 1962. The overwhelming majority of Cubans, who are profoundly impacted by this, weren't even born when this was brought in in 1962. That just shows you how ridiculous this is. It's got to stop.

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