Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Professor Sean Turnell arrived back in Australia on Friday after 650 days in a Myanmar prison. What efforts were made to secure Professor Turnell's release?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators will have seen, and I'm sure all of us welcome, that Professor Sean Turnell has arrived safely back here in Australia and has been reunited with his wife, Ha Vu, and family after more than 21 months of unjust detention in Myanmar. His return will be an enormous relief to family, friends and supporters of his across Australia and across the region. There have been enormous efforts across the Australian government to secure Professor Turnell's release, and we will continue to provide whatever consular support he and his family require.

Can I, at the outset, particularly acknowledge the tireless work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This outcome was the result of sustained strategic engagement and diplomacy by the government and by the department. DFAT officials in Canberra and across many posts in our region played a critical role in bringing Professor Turnell home. I particularly want to acknowledge the work of our head of mission, Angela Corcoran, her predecessor, Andrea Faulkner, as well as all of the Australian and locally engaged teams at posts.

Amongst their many duties, they delivered support packages to Professor Turnell in satchels with the Australian coat of arms, which, as he described to both the Prime Minister and I, in our separate calls with him, he proudly displayed in his cell. As he said to me, last week, his line was: 'Don't mess with the emu and the kangaroo'.

I also wish to thank DFAT's consular operations team, led by Ian Gerard, for their extraordinary dedication and focus and for their commitment and sensitivity to keeping Professor Turnell's family updated throughout the period of his detention.

One of the finest accolades that anyone could give was given by Professor Turnell, who told me that due to the work of DFAT and others he never felt alone. I commend DFAT and all those who had a role in this extraordinary result.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, first supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What role did Australia's partners in our region play to help achieve the release of Professor Turnell?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst the efforts to free Professor Turnell were led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, there are many others around our region who played a crucial role in advocating for his release. So I thank, in this place, all those who have advocated for his release, including regional partners and, especially, members of ASEAN.

I particularly want to acknowledge Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN chairs over the term of his detention—I know that Senator Payne also engaged with them—and the special envoy of the ASEAN chair on Myanmar. I acknowledge the roles of our friends outside of ASEAN who advocated on our behalf. They include India, Japan, the UK and the United States.

We appreciate the arrangements that were made by Myanmar authorities for Professor Turnell's release. We welcome, also, the news of the release of other prisoners alongside Professor Turnell, including Myanmar citizen holders and also foreign nationals from the United Kingdom, US and Japan. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, second supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline to the Senate how the Albanese government will continue to support the people of Myanmar?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we all remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Myanmar. We continue to condemn the regime's brutal behaviour at every opportunity, including in our regional and international advocacy. We will continue to advocate for the release of the remaining political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We will continue to speak up for human rights in our region, and that means we will continue to engage with those who do not agree with us.

I did decide to directly engage with the Myanmar military regime, in order to seek to secure Professor Turnell's release. I did so not because we agree with them but because we have to deal with the world as it is but seek to shape it for the better. That is why this government will continue to support the humanitarian response in Myanmar and Bangladesh, including $135 million this financial year to assist with the delivery of life-saving food, water, shelter and other essential protections. (Time expired)