Senate debates

Tuesday, 25 February 2020

Motions

Death of Mr Reza Barati

3:46 pm

Photo of Nick McKimNick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) 17 February 2020 was the sixth anniversary of Mr Reza Barati's death,

  (ii) Mr Barati was murdered on 17 February 2014 while in the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, Papua New Guinea,

  (iii) Mr Barati's murder occurred during protests and rioting in the centre that also resulted in about 70 refugees being injured,

  (iv) according to the Review into the events of 16-18 February 2014 at the Manus Regional Processing Centre, initiated by the then Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Mr Martin Bowles AO PSM and conducted by Mr Robert Cornall AO, Mr Barati, who was not involved in the unrest, "suffered a severe brain injury caused by a brutal beating by several assailants and died a few hours later",

  (v) Mr Barati was an architecture student who fled Iran and sought asylum in Australia; due to his size and nature, he was known to friends as 'the gentle giant', and

  (vi) since Mr Barati's death, there have been 12 more deaths in Australia's offshore processing system;

(b) expresses sincere condolences to Mr Barati's family and friends; and

(c) at the passing of this motion rises and spends a moment in silence to reflect on the deaths that have occurred in Australia's offshore processing system, including that of Mr Reza Barati.

Question agreed to.

Mr President, on a point of order: the motion contains wording that if it is passed the Senate should rise and spend a moment in silence reflecting on Mr Barati's death, and I ask that that be observed.

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