Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens obviously support this motion because we believe that we need to be doing more to encourage countries right around the world to abolish the death penalty. I think it is in complete contradiction that the government insist that they are happy to make generic statements, which are simply wishy-washy, in our international negotiations and discussions in encouraging other countries to abolish this inhumane treatment, which is obviously against various UN conventions, yet vote down motions on and not have the guts to name countries such as Vietnam and speak directly to them about abolishing the death penalty. It seems a complete contradiction that the government and the opposition could not support the motion relating to the death penalty in Vietnam but they are more than happy to put up a wishy-washy motion, which actually does nothing, and support it.