Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's report entitled Inquiry into the human rights of women and girls in the Pacific.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Australia's relationship with the nations of the Pacific is a very significant one. It goes back more than a century, and there's a great deal of warmth in the relationship we have with the nations in our immediate Pacific environment. For many decades, Australians have reached out to our Pacific Island neighbours through a range of both government and non-government programs. The Australian government has sought to enhance and expand this engagement through its Pacific step-up, which was announced in September 2016.

I think it's fair to observe that, whilst we've had a warm engagement with the islands of the Pacific, there have been occasions on which that engagement has been much more active than on other occasions. I believe that the announcement of the Pacific step-up in September 2016 was an acknowledgement that there was more that Australia could do in relation to building upon those relationships with Pacific neighbours.

This report examines Australia's important ongoing role in the Pacific in the light of that step-up. In particular, it focuses on the role of civil society, the advancement of the human rights of women and girls and the effectiveness of Australia's overseas development assistance program in supporting those rights.

The committee has made 14 recommendations. They build upon the work which is already being undertaken by many government and non-government programs with our Pacific neighbours. The committee acknowledges the considerable efforts of national governments in the Pacific islands, and it's important that we do that—that we acknowledge the great work which has been undertaken by governments in the Pacific for their own people within their own territorial boundaries. Our recommendations acknowledge that and seek to build on the strength of these efforts and propose means whereby Australia can further assist these local efforts. We acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by many civil society organisations and the people-to-people assistance that they render. Women and girls are continuing to shape their societies for the better. We trust that our recommendations will encourage their continuing commitment to supporting peaceful, resilient and happy communities throughout the Pacific. I commend the report to the House.