Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Bartlett, move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Vietnam today is still a one-party state, where basic human rights are abused, and many political dissidents are gaoled or put under house arrest because of their peaceful demand for freedom and democracy,

(ii)

widespread corruption in all levels of government in Vietnam may see Australian aid to Vietnam abused and wasted,

(iii)

recently, there has been a growing pro-democracy movement in Vietnam, initiated by a group of 118 Vietnamese citizens known as the Bloc 8406, named after the date of 8 April 2006 when they openly declared a Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam demanding a peaceful transition to a pluralistic and democratic Vietnam, and

(iv)

a free and democratic Vietnam, with independent legislative and judicial systems, would make Vietnam a better and more reliable trading partner to Australia, where Australian investment would be more secure;

(b)

supports the aspiration for freedom and democracy of the Vietnamese people expressed through the Manifesto of Bloc 8406, which is consistent with the principles upheld by the Australian Parliament; and

(c)

calls on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to observe human rights, and practise good governance to eradicate corruption and to listen to the aspiration of its people, and make appropriate changes to return freedom and democracy to Vietnam.

Question put.