Chris Hayes (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

by leave—I just want to make a short contribution to thank my friend the member for Menzies for his tireless work in leading this committee. Despite the many voices we had appear before us in looking at this for our first periodic report, he was very keen to ensure that this was all by unanimous decision of the committee, which it was. I think that's a testament to his leadership of the committee. I think he's shown that he is committed to the promotion of human rights, particularly through our region of influence, and to guiding the committee in those deliberations. While the committee remains concerned about the widespread prevalence of human rights abuses throughout our region of influence, he has certainly taken the view that the committee should continue to make a report to parliament—basically a snapshot of human rights within our sphere of influence—each calendar year. That's why this is termed the 'first periodic report'.

I would like to move slightly from this report. One of the other aspects the committee has been engaged with over the course of this parliament is the formation of recommendations leading to the production of the targeted sanctions legislation, or what's colloquially known as the Magnitsky bill, which was passed by both houses of this parliament. Again, whilst there were certainly many views at the start of deliberations by the committee, under the leadership of the member for Menzies the committee once again produced a unanimous report, a report that found its way into government legislation, and this legislation is now being used to target the oligarchs associated with the Kremlin and to put pressure on Russian forces in respect of their invasion into Ukraine.

I'd particularly like to pay tribute to Senator Kimberley Kitching, who played a very significant role in the committee's work in that regard. Her work on the Magnitsky legislation contributed to the passage of the bill through the House as targeted sanctions. For her efforts, Senator Kitching was late last year awarded a Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Award in London. She was a tireless advocate for human rights. Her loss to us is significant, not only for this parliament and her family but for the international community and human rights as well.

The first period report has six recommendations, the most important of which is that the government require the Human Rights Subcommittee to report annually to provide a realistic snapshot of human rights within our sphere of influence, particularly in the Pacific and the greater Asia area.

I, too, commend the report. I thank the member for Menzies. I commend him on his valedictory speech, which he recently delivered to the parliament. I must say, leaving aside any partisan element in it, that in my 17 years here it's the most insightful valedictory speech I've ever heard.

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