Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to add the name of Senator Fierravanti-Wells to notice of motion No. 633.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So added.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Wong and Fierravanti-Wells, I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen where 21 million Yemeni are reliant on humanitarian assistance;

(b)   observes this is being made worse by the ongoing disruption to the free movement of lifesaving humanitarian assistance with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs raising grave concern about the impact on the capacity to respond to the continued cholera outbreak and the growing incidents of diphtheria;

(c)   welcomes reports that United Nations planes and a single ship have been given access to Yemen in recent days, allowing much needed humanitarian supplies to be distributed;

(d)   believes that, with 7 million Yemeni on the brink of famine and estimates of 130 children dying daily, it is imperative all parties ensure the free entry and movement of lifesaving humanitarian assistance within Yemen; and

(e)   calls on all parties to heed the calls of the United Nations and international non-government organisations operating in Yemen to allow the free movement of humanitarian and commercial trade.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is deeply concerned for the seven million Yemenis facing starvation in what the United Nations describes as the worst humanitarian crisis since 1945. Australia has responded by providing $20 million in emergency assistance in 2017. We have also contributed $33 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund over the last three years, which has provided support to Yemen. Australia has made representations to relevant parties, underlining the importance of unhindered humanitarian access and compliance with international humanitarian law. Recognising that the only way to end the suffering is for a permanent end to hostilities, Australia has continued to call on all parties to return to UN mediated negotiations.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 633 moved by Senator Urquhart at the request of Senator Wong and Senator Fierravanti-Wells.

Leave granted.

I move the amendment circulated in the chamber:

At the end of paragraph (e), add:

", and in particular, reiterates the UN’s call for the Saudi-led coalition to fully lift its blockade of Yemen’s Red Sea ports, so as to avoid devastating famine."

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With the amendment that the Australian Greens have moved, we very specifically want to highlight what the UN and other agencies have highlighted about Saudi Arabia's blockade. We recently had a scandal where the Australian Navy did a training exercise with the Saudi Arabian navy. That was highlighted in this chamber by the Greens and externally by a number of aid agencies, and that is a significant point of concern. The Greens are very concerned that neither the Labor Party nor the Liberal Party seem to want to single out Saudi Arabia and their blockade. It's not good enough for us to be selling arms, exporting our defence materiel, to Saudi Arabia while at the same time refusing to actually call them out— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will put the amendment to the motion. The question is the amendment moved by Senator Whish-Wilson to the notice of motion No. 633 be agreed to.

Question negatived.

I will put the substantive unamended motion 633, standing in the name of Senators Wong and Fierravanti-Wells.

Question agreed to.