David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the motion raised by the member for Fisher and reinforce the words of the member for Macquarie. Since the invasion of Tibet in 1950 and 1951, things haven't changed, and time doesn't right the essential wrong. The Communist Party of China continues to suppress religion, tradition, Tibetan and Buddhist religious practice and language, and the Dalai Lama has been in exile since 1959 and remains in exile with a government in exile. The CCP continues to ban images of the Dalai Lama and suppresses religious practice. It has banned political expression and is suppressing cultural identity.

The United Nations has identified at least one million children in forced assimilation schools, separated forcibly from their parents on a regular basis of increasing duration as they go from early years, 3 and 4, up to their teenage years and are indoctrinated in Chinese culture to try to wash away their Tibetan and Buddhist heritage. Why is China so afraid of Tibet? Why are they suppressing this? Is it the water that they hope to dam and get into China? Is it the minerals? Is it the practice of forced and illegal organ harvesting and trading? Forced assimilation, summary arrest, extrajudicial killings and torture of prisoners, as well as shooting any Tibetans that try to escape across the border, have all been documented. This really does reflect badly on China.

Australia has made recommendations to have the Chinese government repeal all the restrictive legislation that suppresses the human rights and encourages more abuse. Suppressing a beautiful culture and a religion makes China look weak. If China were clever, they would remove all these prohibitions and let cultural diversity exist in their nation. There are many other cultures that they are suppressing, Australia is stronger for our heritage of many refugees and willing settlers who have come from all corners of the globe to flourish. Don't be afraid, China. You're a big nation now. You need to stop all these suppressions of Tibetan culture, their human and political rights and their freedom of expression, association and religious practice. I commend this motion to the House.

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