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

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 412, relating to the visit by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, 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 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 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

We've just had a visit from the President of Indonesia. He himself, during his speech, acknowledged the importance of upholding human rights, yet, in Indonesia right now, in the second half of last year and into this year, we've seen a dramatic escalation in the human rights abuses being perpetrated on the West Papuan people. We know that the West Papuans have endured human rights abuses for decades. We know that they've been denied the right to self-determination. We know that there has been a slow-motion genocide occurring in Indonesia. West Papuans have been killed protesting. They've been detained without charge, or detained and charged for treason, simply for flying their own flag. We need the Australian government to call on the President to uphold human rights and to ensure that there is access for journalists and human rights monitors into Indonesia. (Time expired)

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

Australia and Indonesia are close friends, neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners. Australia recognises Indonesia's sovereignty over the provinces of Papua and West Papua. This is a bipartisan position in Australia, underlined by the 2006 Lombok Treaty between Australia and Indonesia. Indonesian sovereignty is widely recognised by the international community. The Australian government condemns all violence in the Papua provinces affecting civilians and security personnel alike. Our consistent position has been that the rights of all citizens in Indonesia should be upheld and credible allegations of human rights abuses in Indonesia, including in the Papua provinces, should be investigated.