Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

a. notes that:

i. two gay Saudi journalists are currently being detained by the Australian Government after fleeing their home country where homosexuality is punishable by death,

ii. it is reported that the two men were outed by their own government after contact with foreign media, and feared death and torture, and

iii. the men have drawn similarities between their treatment in Saudi and their treatment in Australian detention – they have allegedly been threatened with violence from other detainees in the centre and been intimidated by guards; and

b. calls on the Australian Government to:

i. acknowledge the increased risk these men face being held in detention due to their sexuality, and

ii. expedite the assessment process for these two journalists and ensure their safety while their claims for asylum are assessed.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) 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.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the longstanding practice of successive governments not to comment on individual cases. Australia takes its international obligations seriously, and any claim for asylum is assessed in accordance with those obligations.

Question agreed to.