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

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1317 standing in my name relating to Uygurs be taken as a formal motion.

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

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

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

I seek leave to make a one-minute 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

Once again we see the hypocrisy of the government in accepting some foreign policy motions—the ones that it likes—and, of course, rejecting the ones that it doesn't like, denying formality again and again. Like many Australians, the Greens are appalled by the reports that are now coming in about the persecution of the Uygur people. There are images of mass internment camps. We're seeing pictures of surveillance devices tracking ordinary citizens' everyday movements. People are banned from going to mosque and praying. Australian citizens and residents are being detained in these so-called re-education camps. We know that the activities of Australian citizens here in Australia are being monitored. And thus far all we've got from the Morrison government is a mealy-mouthed response about how our consular officials are apparently raising concerns behind closed doors. We need a strong statement from this government condemning the human rights abuses going on in China right now. (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.

Scott Ryan (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 government remains concerned about human rights in several countries, including cases of arbitrary detention, and imposed restrictions on freedom of movement, freedom of religious expression and freedom of speech. Australia raised its concerns with China during the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The foreign minister reiterated those concerns to Chinese foreign minister Wang during her visit to Beijing. We continue to urge China and certain other nations to introduce meaningful human rights reforms.