Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a very brief statement in relation to this motion, indicating that the government will be opposing it.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. The government is deeply sympathetic to the suffering of former comfort women. However, the government does not support the Senate making a demand of the Japanese government in this manner when successive Japanese prime ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to the 1993 Kono statement of apology.