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

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes with deep concern:

  (i) the suppression of human rights in Vietnam, including ongoing restrictions on civil and political rights, including freedom of expression, association and assembly, and

  (ii) the ongoing harassment, arrest and detention experienced by peaceful human rights defenders in Vietnam;

(b) notes that Human Rights Watch has reported that more than 100 political prisoners are currently imprisoned for simply exercising their basic human rights and that defenders face harassment, intimidation, surveillance and interrogation on a daily basis; and

(c) calls on the Australian Government to:

  (i) call for the immediate release of all people imprisoned and detained for peacefully protesting,

  (ii) encourage legal reform in Vietnam, including ensuring the right to defence lawyers for all detainees and an abolition of the death penalty, and

  (iii) provide support to local human rights defenders via regular meetings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and working with other embassies in Hanoi to ensure that travel bans against them are lifted and assaults against human rights defenders are promptly reported.

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) 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 committed to working with both the Vietnamese government and the human rights community to improve human rights in Vietnam, including through regular representations and the annual Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue. Australia regularly discusses with Vietnam restrictions on civil and political rights, including freedom of expression, association and assembly. Australia and Vietnam will formally discuss human rights issues at the next human rights dialogue in August.

Peter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Peter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The last time I looked, the Senate was about representing Australians in Australia. The Greens constantly and repeatedly push for human rights of people overseas. I understand the morality behind this, but when was the last time the Greens moved a motion about protecting or supporting Australians first? Let's talk about homelessness. More than 100,000 Australians are on the streets, every night, homeless. Seventeen per cent of them are 12 years or younger. What about their needs? Where are the Greens on this?

Yesterday, I moved a motion about getting a better GST deal for WA. And guess what? The two Greens' senators from Western Australia didn't support it. What about income tax cuts, cutting some slack for ordinary Australians? What did the Greens do? They voted it down. The Greens have shown their hand when it comes to loyalty, and they have none when it comes to Australia. Look after our own backyard before we start worrying about someone else's.

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

Senator Di Natale, I assume you're seeking leave?

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

I can't help it! I'm seeking leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (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

Senator Georgiou's obviously been asleep for the past 10 minutes. We just had a motion on the Murray-Darling. Is that our backyard or not, Senator Georgiou? It might not be yours, but it's certainly ours. You might be from WA, but we think about the Murray-Darling. We had a motion five minutes ago from Senator Steele-John on protecting young people from the influence of gambling. We had a motion from Senator Siewert on Newstart, which no doubt you don't support because you're more interested in giving tax cuts to the big end of town than supporting people who are down and out and doing it tough who can't get a roof over their heads.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Di Natale, please resume your seat. Senator Bernardi?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think Senator Di Natale's rant should be addressed to the chair rather than directly to Senator Georgiou.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're quite right. Senator Di Natale, please address your comments to the chair.

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

Through you, Mr President, One Nation say they support battlers. But do you know who they support? They support themselves and they support the big end of town. They support bankers. They support CEOs. They support senior executives. They've just given them 11,000 bucks in their back pocket while they refuse to increase Newstart. They refuse to do anything for people who are struggling. They do everything they can to feather their own nest and nothing for ordinary Australians.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I take this opportunity to remind senators that one-minute statements, which have grown in currency in the last five to 10 years, are granted at the courtesy of any individual senator, who may object. The purpose of one-minute statements is to clarify positions on the notices of motion in lieu of a longer debate. If senators could keep that in mind, it would probably facilitate the operation of this section of business. I'll put the question for the motion of Senator Di Natale.

Question agreed to.