Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As members of parliament we have a responsibility to stand up against tyranny wherever it exists. Australia is part of an international community that believes in the inherent dignity of the individual, and in people being to able to live their lives with opportunity and enterprise. I bring attention to the human rights abuses that occur in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Only earlier this morning I met with many Vietnamese Australians who said explicitly that they know the legacy and history of communism and socialism and the human impact it has. So many human rights abuses and challenges are faced in Vietnam, particularly for people who want to stand up and exercise their right to free speech, to dissent and disagree, and to defend the type of country they want to it be. Laws have been introduced that restrict freedom of religion unless your religion is registered by the government. It is our job and duty to work with those Australians who want to defend the rights of Vietnamese people to go about their lives lawfully in a way that is acceptable to them. I acknowledge those people from the Vietnamese community in Australia who have come and joined us in the parliament today: Bon Nguyen, Quoc Toan Nguyen, Tien Nguyen, Quang Liu, Phong Nguyen, Kim Loi Hi, Nhung Nguyen, Hoa Phuong Nguyen, Cuc Thi Kim Nguyen, Kien Sinh and Lieu Thi Tran. Thank you for your support, thank you for your work and let's keep going.