Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Stott Despoja for her question. No, I was certainly not aware of the statistic that Senator Stott Despoja mentioned in her question. She does in fact refer specifically to the situation in Darfur. I have to say that of course Australia welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s establishment of peacekeeping operations in Darfur—the UN-African Union peacekeeping operations, UNAMID—to take over responsibility for peacekeeping in Darfur from the African Union mission in Sudan by 31 December 2007. Australia has also welcomed the Security Council’s authorisation for UNAMID to use force to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and to support the implementation of the Darfur peace agreement.

Australia is encouraged by recent UN-AU discussions with Darfuri rebel groups and by the prospect of negotiations between these groups and the government of Sudan. Australia recognises of course that there are substantial obstacles to a settlement. Australia has made and will continue to make significant efforts to relieve the crisis in Darfur. Since mid-2004 we have provided more than $71 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan and almost $11 million to address the spillover effects in neighbouring countries. Australia certainly has offered to provide doctors and nurses to assist the UN with this peacekeeping force. So, Senator Stott Despoja, obviously aid and efforts in peacekeeping can take different forms. Australia is very willing to step up to the plate in tragic situations such as those that we have seen in Darfur to well and truly do our bit. If there is some further information that Minister Downer can give me to add to my answer then I will most certainly convey it to Senator Stott Despoja.