Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. Last month, 57 human rights organisations called on the Cambodian government to stop its harassment and intimidation of independent media outlets and their journalists. Testimony to the inquiry from brave members of the Cambodian diaspora community described these threats, including threats against Australian citizens here and money-laundering by Cambodian officials buying assets in Australia. When Human Rights Watch issued their so-called dirty dozen a few years ago, the top generals and cronies in the regime were found guilty of human rights abuses, and Magnitsky laws will give us new tools to deter and shine light on this behaviour by the corrupt Cambodian elite and ensure Australia provides no shelter to these gangsters.

In closing, I'll just read two quotes. Victorian Labor MP and my friend, Meng Heang Tak, said in his testimony to the inquiry:

… it's about time that Australia played a role in curbing this regime. Given our geographic location, if we don't have a Magnitsky or we don't have enough measures to curb this interference in Australia, Australia is a very good place for the ruling party, for the elite, to park their assets.

So I welcome the report and I commend it to the House. Magnitsky laws will send a strong message of support to the victims and the survivors that states across the world are joining together and taking stronger action to combat human rights violations. I'll end with a quote from Mr Hemara In's testimony. Hemara is also a friend of mine. He lives in my electorate. And he is one of those 113 Cambodians around the world who've been charged in recent weeks by the Hun Sen government and summoned to appear in court in Phnom Penh for allegedly inciting unrest. Unbelievable! Hemara said that, if Australia were to adopt a Magnitsky style targeted sanctions regime, it would send:

… hope to ordinary people that the international community understands their plight and is willing to stand by them and to help them. It's a message of hope.

So, by enacting Magnitsky legislation in Australia, we, as a country, can add our voice to that message of hope. I thank you, Deputy Speaker, and I thank the government for that indulgence.

Debate adjourned.

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