Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1, standing in my name today and related to the status of health facilities and the bombing of MSF facilities in particular under international law, be taken as a formal motion.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

An opposition senator: Yes.

Formality is not granted.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would also appreciate from the whips who it was who denied leave. I understand it was actually Labor, but I would appreciate some clarification.

This is not a complex foreign policy matter. I find it breathtaking that formality has been denied to take a vote that asks nothing of anybody except the expression of this Senate in support of international law that hospitals are not military targets. How on earth has that become controversial? That should be an absolutely unanimous resolution of this Senate. The protection of health facilities and other civilian targets in international law, including the Geneva Conventions, should be uncontroversial. It should not be something that we even need to raise in here. Seventy-five MSF hospitals and supported hospitals suffered 106 bombing and shell attacks in 2015 alone. Please rethink this. I do not understand why leave has been denied for a simple, unanimous Senate resolution on this crucial question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement in response to the short statement from Senator Ludlam.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is our advice that this is a complex and contested piece of foreign policy, and on that basis, in due process in the Senate, we are denying formality.