Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 385 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. I amend the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber and I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the presence in the chamber during question time on Thursday, 12 March 2009, of three members of the Parliament of Burma, democratically-elected in the 1990 election but denied the right to exercise their mandate; and

(b)

expresses its support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

13 March is recognised as Burma Human Rights Day,

(ii)

the global campaign ‘Free Burma’s Political Prisoners Now!’ will commence on 13 March 2009,

(iii)

the democratically-elected parliament was not convened in Burma after the 1990 election, and

(iv)

the referendum on the current constitution held immediately following Cyclone Nargis was a sham and the result cannot be considered credible;

(b)

calls on the Australian Government to:

(i)

use all diplomatic means to encourage the Burmese regime to make meaningful progress towards democracy and to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,

(ii)

refuse to endorse the outcomes of the election in 2010 unless the political climate improves in Burma,

(iii)

press the Burmese regime to engage in genuine multi-party talks leading to an inclusive, open and transparent political process, including constitutional reform, and

(iv)

engage other nations through the United Nations and other multilateral fora to press for multiparty talks and an inclusive, open and transparent political process; and

(c)

expresses its support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma.

• (c)expresses its support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma.

Question agreed to.