Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Stott Despoja for a question about a matter that obviously is of great concern to the Australian government and, I am sure, to everybody in this chamber. Before addressing some of Senator Stott Despoja’s specific questions, I wish to place on record, on behalf of the minister, that the government is appalled at the barbaric actions of the Zimbabwean government in violently suppressing the activities of the political opposition on and after 11 March. I am sure the Senate would wish to know that Mr Downer made our views very clear to the Zimbabwean charge d’affaires on 15 March. Mr Downer’s department also called him in on 16 March.

We are urging Zimbabwe’s neighbours—who would have the greatest leverage over Zimbabwe, as Senator Stott Despoja would appreciate—and key members of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to use their influence to persuade the Zimbabwean government to respect the rule of law and the civil and political rights of its people. We are working with countries concerned about the political and economic catastrophe in Zimbabwe to place greater pressure on the leadership, including by allowing the situation to be considered by the United Nations Human Rights Council. I think it has been said in the press, but it is worth repeating that the Australian ambassador and the consul in Harare are appalled at the injuries sustained by Mrs Sekai Holland, Mr Morgan Tzvangirai and other leaders. Inquiries have been made as to their current condition, their having been severely beaten in detention.

Australia has imposed progressively strengthened travel bans and financial sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean government since 2002, and we urge other countries to do likewise. The Zimbabwean government’s policies have crippled a once-thriving economy, leaving citizens to endure hyperinflation. Zimbabwe’s unemployed population is living very close to the poverty line. Perhaps the most appalling statistic is its lowest life expectancy of any country.

Senator Stott Despoja asked about the implications for Australia’s One Day International tour to Zimbabwe. Mr Downer has previously called on the International Cricket Council to change its rules to allow teams to forfeit tours to countries where serious human rights abuses are occurring. It will be up to Cricket Australia to consider a range of issues on its mooted One Day International tour of Zimbabwe, including the security of the Australian team, and to consider with the ICC just how the game of cricket could possibly be seen to be served by international tours to Zimbabwe.

I also have some very recent information, which is that the Prime Minister has apparently said that he will speak to Mr Downer about this issue but that he has an inclination to maintain his previous position that the government would prefer that the tour did not go ahead but that the decision would be left to Cricket Australia, noting that it does have some attendant obligations to the ICC.