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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Minister Ludwig. In light of the recent actions by the Indonesian police and military in West Papua in response to the peaceful gathering at the Papuan national congress, can you tell the Senate what support the Australian government provides to the Indonesian police force, including the counterterrorism squad known as Detachment 88, along with the nature of such support and the date on which that support commenced?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Di Natale for his question. The Australian government's support for the Indonesian National Police consists of counterterrorism training and capacity-building initiatives supported by the AFP. The AFP does provide capacity building to enhance the INP. That would also include Detachment 88 to build capability, including counterterrorism. This capacity building includes the provision of support to a range of INP initiatives implement by the Jakarta Regional Cooperation Team and the AFP counterterrorism senior police adviser in Jakarta. Initiatives include investigation support and forensic assistance including a post-bomb-blast analysis. The AFP has also supported the INP in establishing and developing forensic bomb data centres, the introduction of case management and intelligent system databases and the provision of equipment and support. In addition, I will take on notice when that support commenced and see what the Minister for Home Affairs can add.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Will the government be reconsidering providing support to the Indonesian police force and the counterterrorism squad known as Detachment 88 based on its involvement in human rights abuses in West Papua such as those that occurred at the recent third Papuan national congress?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia shares a strong and productive relationship with Indonesia and it has established a joint framework to address people smuggling. More broadly, AFP support also extends to provision of training to the INP, including Detachment 88 officers. This is provided through the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation and it incorporates good governance, rule of law, judicial process, human rights and accountability. The principles of human rights are embedded in all of the JCLEC programs, and police accountability is incorporated into scenario based training. That part of the question I will take on notice for the Minister for Home Affairs.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. It has been revealed today that Indonesian police are on the payroll of the operators of the Freeport Grasberg gold and copper mine in West Papua. Given the evidence of such naked corruption and the threat of imminent violence against predominantly West Papuan workers exercising a legitimate right to take industrial action, will this Labor government undertake to suspend cooperation with the Indonesian police forces until this corruption and these human rights abuses cease?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Di Natale for his second supplementary question. I will not take the question as given. I will ask that the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Brendan O'Connor, provide additional information or take on notice that part of the question which relates to this specific issue and see what further information he can provide.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, in order to facilitate Australian cultural observance and with the concurrence of the Senate I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.