Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—The government has previously indicated in this chamber its objection to dealing with complex international relations matters by means of formal motions. It is our view that it is counterproductive for motions of this kind to single out one country when Australia’s opposition to the death penalty is universal. The Australian government’s policy on the death penalty is clear and consistent. Australia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 2 October 1990. In keeping with the government’s policy of encouraging universal ratification of the second optional protocol, we call on all countries to abolish the death penalty. We consider the establishment of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a key step towards abolition.

We advance our universal opposition to the death penalty through the United Nations, including advocating for the death penalty’s abolition. Australia also encourages the abolition of the death penalty in its bilateral human rights dialogue with China, Vietnam and Laos and makes bilateral representations on the death penalty to other countries which still impose it. I want to add clearly, categorically and without question that this government is committed to working with the international community to achieve the death penalty’s universal abolition.