Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025. Following the prorogation of the 47th Parliament and dissolution of the House of Representatives on 28 March, my House colleagues and I were not able to attend the 150th assembly. However, the Australian delegation to the IPU was expertly led by Senator Deborah O'Neill and accompanied by the former senator, the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC.

The Australian delegation focused its engagement with the IPU on the twice-yearly assemblies; however, it is not possible always to participate, and online events have been a normal occurrence. As part of my commitment to the civics education program Parliament in Schools, as well as to the National Youth Parliament, I've moderated an IPU webinar entitled 'Engaging young people to improve democracy: how can political leaders in power provide young people with the opportunities to have their say'. The webinar has brought together parliamentarians and civil society leaders to discuss practical steps to empower young people in democratic processes.

Next year the Australian parliament will celebrate 70 years of membership with the IPU. While I'll have more to say about that milestone later, Australia has a significant track record over its decades of IPU engagement. The 150th assembly in Tashkent was no different, as our delegates represented the parliament with distinction. Firstly, I give thanks to Senator O'Neill for representing Australia at the IPU Executive Committee and for serving, on my behalf, as the chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Finance. Senator O'Neill presented a proposal for a future resolution on tax avoidance, which was accepted by the standing committee on sustainable development. The topic will be debated at the next assembly, in October this year, and advanced as a resolution for endorsement at the 156th assembly in early 2026.

Senator Reynolds has continued to advance her work on orphanage trafficking while also serving on the bureau of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. As part of an orphanage trafficking plan, Senator Reynolds participated in a podcast, has written opinion pieces and facilitated discussions at the 150th assembly on implementing the 2023 IPU resolution on orphanage trafficking. Senator O'Neill has also served as president of the bureau on the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, responsible for presiding over committee meetings and debates, and reporting to the assembly on the committee's activities.

On behalf of the Australian delegation, I want to thank those who supported our delegates at the 150th IPU assembly. I give thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra and the Parliamentary Library for providing detailed background information to the delegation. The delegation also appreciated the assistance and support of the International and Parliamentary Relations Office. I also give my thanks to Senator O'Neill for leading the delegation with professionalism and expertise.

Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the contribution of former senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, whose work on orphanage trafficking at the IPU culminated in a groundbreaking resolution on the subject in 2023. The resolution was adopted by the IPU member parliaments by consensus, marking the first global action on orphanage trafficking. Senator Reynolds has also attended six assemblies from 2022 and was the 49th woman parliamentarian to serve as an Australian delegate since the Australian parliament joined the IPU in 1956. I thank her for the service. And, finally, I'd like to thank and acknowledge Dr Jane Thomson from the Department of the Senate, who served as delegation secretary.

I commend the report to the House.

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