Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I am astonished by that question. As if anyone in this Senate would hold that view. We deplore the circumstances that would force people to give rise to this extreme, to this tragic, form of protest. The Dalai Lama, with whom I have met twice, is a significant religious leader for Tibetan Buddhists. Any suggestion, however, of independence for Tibet conflicts with the position taken by every Australian government since December 1972 when Australia recognised China's sovereignty over Tibet with the establishment of diplomatic relations. In statements—