Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the motion. I think that the entire House is basically in favour of the motion, but we are in a situation where, as is often the case, the argument is: how do you get to the place you need to be, ensuring that—with respect—real action takes place? I would like to commence by acknowledging the representatives of the Cambodian community and venerable monks who are present here in the chamber—I understand they are mainly made up of the Cambodian community in Canberra, but I know that this is an issue of great interest to members of the Cambodian community throughout the nation. I acknowledge also the tremendous migrants they have been in Australia since many of them arrived, in the aftermath of one of the bloodiest conflicts that we have seen in our times—that is, around the questions of Vietnam and the bombing of Cambodia, and beyond that, the civil war and the terrible regime of Pol Pot. I acknowledge that in my local community in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, they have been fine Australians and people that I am proud to count amongst my friends.

The fact that there are so many members of the Cambodian community here today illustrates to the House the grave concerns that are held about what is occurring back in Cambodia. These concerns have been long held, but recent events have brought them to the forefront. I would like to pick up on a couple of the comments made by earlier members. We are seeing a situation now in Cambodia where—after decades of improvement on an economic front, and decades of hope on a political front—things are going backwards. That needs to be understood. The member for Berowra—a member that I have a good deal of respect for on issues of human rights—in his comments mentioned that when we talk about democracy, it is not the same everywhere, and that the circumstances in Asia are different, at times. I agree with him that that is the case, but we have to look at the question of what is taking place there. The recent events in January—around the shooting and detaining of garment workers protesting merely to try and get a reasonable living or subsistence wage—are beyond the pale. They are indicative of what has been occurring in Cambodia over recent times, when many in the international community have hoped, prayed and worked to see improvements—hopefully along the road to a fuller democracy.

The member for Brisbane made some comments which I would also like to pick up on. It is great that the Minister for Foreign Affairs—according to the member for Brisbane—when she was in Cambodia was raising these issues in discussions with senior figures in the government. That is fantastic and I want to congratulate her on that. I am sorry that we had to hear that here, in this debate, rather than in a statement from the foreign minister. Given the significance of this issue to many people of Cambodian descent in the Australian community, and to all of those who are concerned about human rights in our region, it would have been better if we had heard about it before this debate. But I congratulate the minister that those statements have been made and that those attempts were made while she was there. That is a very good thing.

I would like to pick up on one issue that the member for Parkes raised. He mentioned the question of the garment industry. He said that when he visited Cambodia, he was pleased to see that it provided meaningful work. I agree totally. Meaningful work for meaningful pay is an underlying basis of fair play within our Australian system and across politics. It should be in place throughout the world. Let us not forget the workers who were shot, or the men and women who have been detained for demonstrating for a right that we would see as something we all have, and should have. They were seeking a minimum monthly wage increase from just over $90 per month to just over $112 per month. I do not think anyone could say that that is unreasonable.

I support the motion, because these are issues that need to be raised. I am very pleased that the minister raised these issues while visiting Cambodia. They should be raised again. The time of quiet diplomacy with Cambodia may well be gone. We may need to be more active and more vocal in support of freedom. (Time expired)

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