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

I have to say that it is deeply disappointing that once again the government has refused to consider an important foreign policy motion. In the last few weeks, my office and my colleagues' offices have received many emails from Australians living in fear for their loved ones in Kashmir. People are unable to be contacted, and, of course, while we've been on our winter break, the Indian government has drastically eroded Kashmiris' rights to self-determination. To quell dissent and to keep news away from the outside world, it has instigated a phone and internet blackout, it has detained political leaders and it has flooded Kashmir with troops.

This government should take a stand. It should make it absolutely clear and unequivocal to the Indian government that its actions are dangerous and counterproductive, and it should support the right of all Kashmiris to determine their own futures.