Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I just want to draw the attention of senators to the motion, No. 721 on the Notice Paper. You might like to have a quick look at what it is you are about to vote down, which I presume is what is about to occur. This motion does not actually call on the government to do anything except note the facts of the situation on the ground. I acknowledge that the previous motion, on Burma, actually did call on the Australian government to undertake some significant and quite important changes in Australian foreign policy on that matter. This one does not. It asks the government, in fact, to do exactly what the minister just said, in his exact words: to continue to monitor the progress of talks between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama, and other similar clauses. You are about to vote down something that is so innocuous I was almost embarrassed to put it up. This is not about delicate matters of foreign policy, and yet the entire chamber seems, on instinct, prepared to simply line up and knock it off. This is a long way—