Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. On 8 November 2012, the minister made the following statement:

Promoting democracy helps to secure peace, prosperity and stability in our region.

I note the minister's record in supporting democracy in Fiji, Myanmar and Pakistan, to name but a few nations. Ten days ago Malaysia's 13th general elections were held. The official results had the opposition gaining 50 per cent of the vote, but it obtained only 40 per cent of the seats and lost to the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. Since then Bersih, the clean and fair elections movement in Malaysia, has stated that there was massive electoral fraud and irregularities in the elections with the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, referring to the worst electoral fraud in Malaysia's history. Does the Australian government share the concerns expressed by the White House and the EU over the need for a proper investigation of the allegations made?