Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises:

(i) the signing of the Charter of the Commonwealth by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia and Head of the Commonwealth, on 11 March 2013, and

(ii) That the Charter reaffirms the core values and principles of the Commonwealth as being:

  (A) democracy,

  (B) human rights,

  (C) international peace and security,

  (D) tolerance, respect and understanding,

  (E) freedom of expression,

  (F) separation of powers,

  (G) rule of law,

  (H) good governance,

  (i) sustainable development,

  (J) protecting the environment,

  (K) access to health, education, food and shelter,

  (L) gender equality,

  (M) importance of young people in the Commonwealth,

  (N) recognition of the needs of small states,

  (O) recognition of the needs of vulnerable states, and

  (P) the role of civil society; and

(b) encourages the Australian Government to further demonstrate its support for the values contained in the Charter by working to ensure all Commonwealth nations abide by its commitments.

Question agreed to.