Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

OHN () (): I'm proud to share with the Senate that the Australian Greens have updated our position in response to the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis that continues to occur in Myanmar. Last year the Australian Greens were one of the first political parties globally to recognise the national unity government as the only legitimate government of Myanmar. According to the United Nations, there are currently 1.6 million people displaced across Myanmar, 17.6 million people in need and 70,000 civilian properties have been burnt or destroyed by the junta since the February 2021 coup. The humanitarian response remains largely underfunded, with only 17 per cent of required funding received by mid-2023. What is worse is that Australia has imported over $3.5 million worth of products from companies linked to members of the Myanmar military junta, including arms and ammunition.

The Australian Greens continue to hear the people of Myanmar's call for assistance. We will support you in your struggle for freedom and for democracy. We will always champion your rights and your freedoms. We are calling for an immediate increase to the targeted sanctions on organisations involved in continued funding of the military; for diplomatic isolation of the junta, particularly from ASEAN forums; for an immediate increase in humanitarian aid provided through a humanitarian corridor; and for the Australian government to call on its allies in the Security Council to table and vote on a follow-up resolution for Myanmar that includes mechanisms to enable full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all the peoples of Myanmar.