Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is very rightly gravely concerned by the Ugandan parliament's passing of the Anti-homosexuality Bill on 21 March this year. These heinous laws implement punishments and criminalisation for LGBTQI people in Uganda and also for those people who support and protect these vulnerable populations. The laws even open the way for the death penalty to be used in some instances. And the laws provide for extended prison terms. Rightfully, Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, but the bill passed by the Ugandan parliament stigmatises any Ugandan living with HIV and will, as many international commentators who are active in this space have asserted, reverse the gains that have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Nobody should face criminalisation and punishment or the death penalty for simply existing and being who they are. Internationally we have already seen horrific reports of violence and torture since the bill's passage. The Australian government urges the Ugandan government to do everything possible to promote, protect and respect the rights—the human rights—of all its citizens. We call on President Yoweri Museveni to urgently veto this appalling legislation.