Senate debates

Wednesday, 21 March 2007

Zimbabwe

3:48 pm

Photo of Kerry NettleKerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—
(a)   notes:
(i)   the recent attacks and beatings of Zimbabwean opposition members, including Movement for Democratic Change leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa,
(ii)   the news that Zimbabwean President Mr Mugabe is importing up to 3 000 militia from Angola to help bolster the ability of his own police force to clamp down on the opposition,
(iii)   that Mr David Coultard from the Movement for Democratic Change has urged more concrete diplomatic action from Australia to help resolve the democratic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, and
(iv)   that former Zimbabwean Test Cricket Captain, Mr Andy Flowers, has in March 2007 called for sporting sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe; and
(b)   calls on the Government to:
(i)   convene diplomatic meetings with other Commonwealth nations to push for further diplomatic, financial, aid and trade measures against the Mugabe regime, and
(ii)   consider compensating Cricket Australia for any loses imposed on them by the International Cricket Council if they cancel their scheduled tour of Zimbabwe later in 2007.

Question put.