Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I too want to address the ongoing and grave situation in Iran as we mark the second anniversary of the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini. I begin by highlighting the decisive steps the Australian government has taken in response to Iran's continued human rights violations.

Under this government, we have taken stronger action against Iran on human rights than under any previous Australian government. We have imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 195 Iran linked individuals and entities, including almost 100 associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This action underscores our commitment to holding the Iranian regime accountable for its severe human rights violations against women and girls and against free speech. Just today, my colleague Senator Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has announced additional targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on an additional five Iranian individuals. As mentioned earlier by Senator Ciccone, these are senior security and law enforcement officials who have been directly involved in the violent repression of protests in Iran. This strategic action is part of our broader commitment to challenging the regime's ongoing abuses and ensuring those responsible face consequences. It also sits alongside the Australian government's internationally known stance for strong, evidence based advocacy on the abolition of the death penalty.

This government has expanded the scope of the Iran autonomous sanctions regime specifically to address the oppression of women and girls in Iran and the general oppression of the population. On this two-year anniversary of the horror that has unfolded, let's remember: Mahsa Jina Amini was a young Kurdish Iranian woman arrested in September 2022 for improperly wearing her hijab. Her arrest, alleged torture and subsequent death in custody sparked a wave of protests, driven by a demand for justice, equality and fundamental freedoms. The Iranian regime's response to these peaceful demonstrations was brutally repressive, with security forces violently quashing dissent and causing the deaths of more than 500 people, including women and children.

Two years on from Mahsa Amini's death, the human rights situation in Iran remains deeply troubling. We have seen escalating violence against these extraordinarily brave activists, who are standing up in defiance. Yet they are showing unbelievable courage in rising up against the sort of oppression that we here in Australia could never imagine. Earlier this year, Iranian authorities intensified their enforcement of mandatory hijab laws, using increased surveillance and harassment to control women's choices and suppress dissent. The regime has also escalated its use of the death penalty, with over 400 executions recorded this year alone, including of 15 women. The oppression extends to ethnic and religious minorities, arbitrary detentions and the persecution of human rights defenders. The regime's actions have a chilling effect on free expression and basic human rights both within Iran and beyond its borders.

In stark contrast to the Albanese government's proactive stance, the previous government took no significant action against the Iranian regime. During their nine years in office, they did not impose a single new sanction on Iran, nor did they challenge Iran's position on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, despite the regime's record of human rights abuses. I am proud that our government has been at the forefront of international efforts to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women. We have consistently raised our concerns directly with the Iranian government, demonstrating our commitment to human rights and justice. The opposition may criticise our approach, but, when we look at their record, the facts speak for themselves. Over nine years in government, we saw their inaction and silence. There was not a single new sanction on Iran. There was not one word of complaint when Iran was elected to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, a committee they were a member of. This government has demonstrated a clear and unwavering commitment to holding the Iranian regime accountable and supporting the brave individuals fighting for their rights in Iran. We use actions, not just words.

As we reflect on Mahsa Amini's legacy today, along with the continuing acts of bravery by Iranian women and other people, plus others around the world in defiance through their various acts of resistance, we reaffirm our support for the people of Iran, especially the activists—the women and girls who continue to show immense courage in their struggle for equality and freedom. This government stands in solidarity with them.