Lisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) Australia's co-sponsorship of the:

(A) 2012 United Nations (UN) General Assembly Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution calling on the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and to take credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans, and

(B) 2013 UN General Assembly HRC resolution expressing concern at continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, and reiterating the call on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the commission's recommendations and to fulfil its commitment to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,

(ii) reports of continuing violations of human rights in Sri Lanka; intimidation of and reprisals against human rights defenders, members of civil society and journalists; threats to judicial independence and the rule of law; and a rapid rise in violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief in Sri Lanka, and

(iii) the High Commissioner for Human Rights' conclusion that national mechanisms have consistently failed to establish the truth and achieve justice in Sri Lanka, and her recommendation That the HRC establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law and monitor any domestic accountability processes; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to:

(i) maintain Australia's strong record of support for human rights at the 25th session of the HRC, and

(ii) join with the United Kingdom and the United States and other co sponsoring nations and commit the Australian Government to the strongest possible support to the draft HRC resolution A/HRC/25/L.1.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government takes all allegations of human rights abuses and international crime seriously. Australia consistently raises issues of human rights' accountability and reconciliation directly with the Sri Lankan government. We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to give the highest priority to implementing the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission process.

The Australian government believes that engaging Sri Lanka, not isolating it, is the most effective way to encourage and advance progress on human rights and accountability and for promoting reconciliation. A decision on whether Australia will co-sponsor a US-led resolution on Sri Lanka will be made after due consideration of the final text and the balance of issues it raises.

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note the government's response to this and say that it is completely disingenuous. The meeting in Geneva is taking place right now. The vote will be tonight. In the debate on this particular matter the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States are moving for an international independent inquiry into Sri Lanka. Australia has sat on the sidelines and been silent, and has allowed China, Cuba, Venezuela and Iran to add the so-called balance that the Australian government wants, to give praise to the Rajapaksas, when any number of reports out there—Island of impunity? and Can't flee; can't staycondemn the Sri Lankan government.

Appeasing the Rajapaksas is entirely the wrong way to go for your domestic 'stop the boats' policy. It is disgraceful foreign policy to have our view represented in that. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.