Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst the efforts to free Professor Turnell were led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, there are many others around our region who played a crucial role in advocating for his release. So I thank, in this place, all those who have advocated for his release, including regional partners and, especially, members of ASEAN.

I particularly want to acknowledge Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN chairs over the term of his detention—I know that Senator Payne also engaged with them—and the special envoy of the ASEAN chair on Myanmar. I acknowledge the roles of our friends outside of ASEAN who advocated on our behalf. They include India, Japan, the UK and the United States.

We appreciate the arrangements that were made by Myanmar authorities for Professor Turnell's release. We welcome, also, the news of the release of other prisoners alongside Professor Turnell, including Myanmar citizen holders and also foreign nationals from the United Kingdom, US and Japan. (Time expired)