Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens have put forward this motion to show solidarity with those people in Hong Kong who are protesting to defend their democratic rights and freedoms: the right to freedom of speech, to freedom of the press and to freedom of assembly. They rightly fear the reintroduction of a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, and who would blame them? They want to see it withdrawn. On 12 June, on just one day, the police in Hong Kong used 150 tear gas canisters on protesters. The Greens support their cause for the withdrawal of the bill, for an investigation into police actions and for the release of imprisoned protesters. We urge the coalition government, who say they stand up for the principles of democracy and who want to talk about freedom: well, stand up for it; defend Hong Kong's democratic rights.