Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

China’s condemnation of Liu Xiaobo as a ‘criminal’,

(ii)

Mr Liu’s major ‘crime’ was calling for ‘democracy reform’ in China, and

(iii)

Beijing’s diplomatic efforts to have the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo boycotted; and

(b)

calls on the Australian Government to ensure that Australia is officially represented at the Oslo presentation of the prize to Mr Liu’s representatives.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has already made statements in regard to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, and we do not believe that this individual’s incarceration is appropriate or justified. Australia believes that his sentence should be brought to a termination and he should be released. I also note that Australia has not been invited to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

As has been said in this place before, Australia recognises that China has made some progress in human rights over the last 30 years. However, the government remains concerned about human rights in China. We do not believe that either the Australian government’s careful management of the complex and important relationship with China or progress on human rights, including Dr Liu’s case, will be materially assisted by this Senate motion.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is enormous discussion around the world about official representation at the ceremony. I can only think that if the Australian government does not have an invitation from Oslo to attend this prize-giving ceremony, it is for want of trying. I will draw to the Norwegian embassy’s notice that there has not been an invitation. I think it would be no trouble at all for Australia to have official representation if it wanted to and that the government should make that attempt. However, I will do that on its behalf.

On the subject of the incarceration of Liu Xiaobo, who is one of the greatest exponents of democracy and human, political, civil and religious rights on the face of the planet, he not only should not be in jail but should be celebrated. The Chinese government should be taken on for its unreasonable and cruel repression by putting this man into jail along with many, many other supporters of democracy. The Australian government ought to be doing much more.

This is a simple motion calling for official representation and for Australia to be at the prize-giving ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize. The government has now revealed it is not going to be there. That adds a new question before the chamber and before this parliament as to why not. I will seek information from the Norwegian embassy and report back to the chamber on that matter.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Bob Brown’s) be agreed to.