Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

First, could I associate myself with those remarks from Senator Dean Smith on our wonderful Vietnamese Australian community. I would also, once again, in a Queensland context, note the passing this year of a wonderful Australian, Dr Cuong Bui, who contributed so much to our beautiful country.

I have risen on a number of occasions in this parliament to talk about the situation in Syria and, in particular, the persecution of minorities in Syria—Christian minorities, Alawites, Druze and other minorities in Syria. I gave a speech on 25 March 2025 on this issue, having attended a memorial service which was held in King George Square in my home state of Queensland. I gave a speech on 23 July 2025, after having discussions with members of the Queensland Syrian Christian community following the suicide bombing of the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, where I saw horrific images of what occurred in the course of that bombing and heard firsthand the devastating impact on members of our community with loved ones in Syria.

Subsequent to the last sitting in parliament, I met with members of the Syrian Druze community. There have been horrific events occurring in Syria where members of the Druze community have been specifically targeted. In particular, I refer to the situation in the city of Suwayda in southern Syria. When I met members of the Druze Australian community in my home state of Queensland, they told me about how desperate they were for aid to reach their loved ones in Suwayda, which was, effectively, blockaded from any assistance. They talked about loved ones who couldn't access food or water. They sent me horrific footage of what happened in Suwayda in mid-July, with the targeting of members of the Druze community. They called for action on behalf of the Australian government.

I do note that an aid convoy arrived in the city of Suwayda under the auspices of the United Nations. I want to emphasise that the Australian government must do everything it can to make sure that aid continues to flow to Suwayda, to the Druze community and to all other ethnic minorities within Syria who are the subject of persecution. In this respect, I also note a story from Reuters which just came out which I think puts a very bright light on the situation in Syria. Syria has actually detained members of its own defence and interior ministry suspected of violence in Suwayda. I quote from this article:

Syria has interrogated and detained members of its defence and interior ministries suspected of committing abuses against civilians in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida in July, the committee investigating the violence has said.

There were hundreds of people who were murdered in Suwayda. I've seen some of the footage, which is so disturbing, including of the hospital in Suwayda. It was very disturbing.

I think that at this point in time the Australian government needs to do everything it possibly can, through all multilateral international forums, to make sure those responsible for the violence are held accountable, and to protect all ethnic minorities in Syria. Christian, Alawite, Druze—all ethnic minority communities in Syria need to be protected. The fact that the government has gone to the step of arresting members of its own defence ministry and interior ministry underlines the problem. We have to use this parliament to maintain a bright light on the actions of the Syrian government, make sure that people are held accountable, and do everything we possibly can to make sure that those vulnerable ethnic communities in Syria are protected. I once again call for the Australian government to open up humanitarian pathways in Syria, especially for women and children with loved ones in Australia.