Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Wong, I move:

That the Senate:

(a) expresses its serious concerns with Cambodia's 2018 national election and welcomes assurances that the Government has made Australia's concerns known to the Cambodian Government;

(b) notes the election process, which has included the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the detention of CNRP leader Kem Sokha, and the banning of CNRP parliamentarians and officials from engaging in politics for five years, has reversed more than 25 years of progress towards democracy in Cambodia;

(c) recognises that freedom of expression and association underpin democratic societies and affirms concerns that the election took place in an environment where not all political parties, civil society organisations and media could operate freely;

(d) expresses its disappointment that Cambodian people have been unable to freely choose their representatives and recognises that the development of strong democratic practices and institutions, including a free press and civil society, is crucial to Cambodia's long-term prosperity;

(e) reiterates that, as a longstanding friend of Cambodia, Australia must continue to urge the Cambodian Government to take steps to allow free and open political debate without violence and intimidation;

(f) acknowledges the Australian Cambodian community for its tireless advocacy in support of human rights and democracy in Cambodia;

(g) calls on the Cambodian Government to immediately release opposition leader Kem Sokha;

(h) notes allegations of involvement in illicit activities, including money laundering, by members of the Cambodian People's Party in Australia, and urges full investigation of these claims; and

(i) calls on the Australian Government to consider, in coordination with other partners, additional measures to support democracy in Cambodia.