Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate at the outset that the opposition will continue on this occasion to observe the conventions in relation to formality, but, given the importance of this issue and the focus on this issue, I do wish to make a short statement in relation to Labor's views. As I have previously indicated on behalf of the opposition, we are deeply concerned by continuing reports of the mass detention and other violations of human rights of Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups in China. Labor supports the letter, co-signed by 22 countries, including Australia, at the Human Rights Council, calling on the Chinese government to uphold its own national laws and international obligations to respect human rights, including freedom of religion, and to refrain from arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedom of movement of Muslims in Xinjiang.

This week, along with my colleagues Senator Keneally and Mr Dreyfus, I met with members of the Uygur Australian community. Their situation is heartbreaking, and some of it has been in the public arena. No Australian could help but be moved by their circumstances. We have raised our concerns in a number of statements and public comments. We fully support the government in its efforts to raise the issue of Uygur Australians with their counterparts in Beijing and to secure consular access for any Australian citizens detained.