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

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 764, relating to human rights in Cambodia and Myanmar, be taken as a formal motion.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

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

Yes.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is an objection.

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

In lieu of suspending standing orders, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

Shameful. Shameful. Once again, we see the government blocking the will of the Senate and refusing to allow us a chance to vote on this important motion. Put yourself in the shoes of a Rohingya refugee living in squalid conditions in Bangladesh's refugee camps, or a member of Australia's Cambodian community who has had to endure threats of physical violence from Hun Sen. Put yourself in their shoes now, and think about what they'd be thinking about the response of the Australian government—the government's failure to criticise the leaders of Myanmar and Cambodia when they were on our soil. We have a responsibility here. Cambodia's democracy is crumbling before our very eyes. Myanmar has tried to wipe the Rohingya people off the map. What on earth is it going to take for this government to grow a spine and start to stand up for human rights in our region?

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.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) 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

As formal motions cannot be debated or amended, they should not deal with complex and contested foreign policy matters, particularly when the motion has the potential to damage Australia's relations with other nations.

The Australian government is deeply concerned by developments in Myanmar and Cambodia. We continue to raise our concerns directly with both governments, including during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. We have supported United Nations resolutions calling for accountability for human rights abuses; unhindered humanitarian access; and the safe, dignified and voluntary return of displaced Rohingya. Australia supports the UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar and will engage closely with its findings. We have publicly and privately urged the Cambodian government to allow the exercise of democratic rights, including through a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 21 March 2018. We are keeping a range of response options under review for both countries.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor have made known our view about the importance of rules based order, and ASEAN's role in providing and fostering such order. Labor has a strong history in leading efforts for peace and democracy in our region—including the role of Gareth Evans as architect of the 1991 Paris peace accords—recognising that any political system must operate with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Labor has routinely expressed concern about the treatment of persecuted minorities in Rakhine state in Myanmar, and the dismantling of independent voices in political opposition in Cambodia. Labor urges the government to continue to voice Australia's concerns about these matters with the governments of these countries.

The opposition notes that defence cooperation in Myanmar focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping training, English-language training, and officer education and professionalisation. According to the Department of Defence, this engagement provides opportunities for Australia to promote the role of a professional defence force and highlights the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law.