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

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1274, standing in my name for today, relating to West Papua, be taken as a formal motion.

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

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

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Senator Di Natale, the motion's been denied.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) 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.

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

Once again, the hypocrisy of both the government and the Labor Party is exposed. They are quite happy to put forward foreign policy motions when it suits both of their agendas but not when it results in exposing an uncomfortable truth. The reality here is that, for one of our closest neighbours, people have described what is going on there as a 'slow-moving genocide at the hands of the Indonesian authorities', and yet we cannot even table a motion in this parliament to highlight the terrible human rights abuses that are occurring in that region right now. Since 1969, the opportunity to determine their own future has been denied to the people of West Papua. For 50 years, they've been shackled to Indonesia and denied the right to self-determination. They can't even raise their own flag without risking imprisonment. How about we show a little bit of respect for our neighbours and call out those abuses that are going on in the region? (Time expired)

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In line with the government's longstanding view, motions that cannot be debated or amended should not deal with complex foreign policy matters. The Australian government recognises Indonesia's sovereignty over the Papua provinces, which is reflected in the 2006 Lombok Treaty between Australia and Indonesia. The international community also widely recognises Indonesian sovereignty over the Papua provinces. The government condemns all violence in Papua, whether directed against civilians or security personnel. Our consistent position has been that the rights of all citizens in Indonesia, including in the Papua provinces, should be upheld.