Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor has a strong history in leading efforts for peace and democracy in Cambodia. Under Labor, Australia was a party to the 1991 Paris peace accords aimed at ending conflict in Cambodia, and we agree with the vision for a democratic political system with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Labor foreign minister Gareth Evans was the architect of this peace process, and Australia's John Sanderson led the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, which supervised free elections in which 90 per cent of the population voted.

Labor expresses concern with the dismantling of independent voices and political opposition in Cambodia. It is incredibly disappointing that the Australian Greens did not accept Labor's proposed amendments to two subparagraphs in this motion, which would have enabled it to be supported. Labor urges the government to continue to voice Australia's concerns about the undermining of Cambodia's democracy and ensure these matters covered by this motion are raised with the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, when he attends the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to be held in Sydney in March.