Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 805.

Leave granted.

I note that Senator Keneally's name will be added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Keneally, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate notes that:

(a) 25 August 2020 marked three years since over 700,000 Rohingya, including more than 400,000 children, fled from targeted violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, to Bangladesh;

(b) the camps in Bangladesh now host over 850,000 refugees in crowded conditions; which is also impacting the lives of over 400,000 local Bangladeshis;

(c) an estimated 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine State;

(d) since 2017, the Australian Government has provided over $260 million in lifesaving humanitarian assistance for displaced and conflict-affected communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar, working through UN agencies; international and national NGOs such as BRAC, Save the Children, CARE, World Vision, Plan and Oxfam and their local partners to deliver food, shelter; water and sanitation, health and education services; and targeted support for women and girls to help combat risks including gender-based violence and trafficking;

(e) annual monsoons and cyclones have brought additional risks and the COVID-19 virus has now arrived with 270 confirmed cases to date in the Cox's Bazar camps and over 1800 active cases in Rakhine; and

(f) Australia remains committed to supporting Myanmar to create conditions on the ground conducive to voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns for all displaced people.