Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government takes all allegations of human rights abuses and international crime seriously. Australia consistently raises issues of human rights' accountability and reconciliation directly with the Sri Lankan government. We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to give the highest priority to implementing the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission process.

The Australian government believes that engaging Sri Lanka, not isolating it, is the most effective way to encourage and advance progress on human rights and accountability and for promoting reconciliation. A decision on whether Australia will co-sponsor a US-led resolution on Sri Lanka will be made after due consideration of the final text and the balance of issues it raises.