Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I advise senators that we have one further notice of motion to deal with, which may involve a division.

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

I am hoping that no division will be necessary, Mr President. I ask that general business notice of motion No. 956 standing in my name for today, which relates to some rather nasty political developments in Cambodia, be taken as a formal motion.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is an objection.

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

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minutes.

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

Thank you. I am not sure whether Senator Ryan is shortly going to give us a condescending lecture about not debating foreign policy matters using formal motions. However, we will leave that to Senator Ryan. In recent days, actually, the Senate has passed unanimously a number of motions on foreign policy issues, and I was about to congratulate the government on this new approach. I do not see why the government would be unable to pass a fairly simple Senate resolution today calling on the Cambodian government, in strong terms, to revoke the arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Mr Sam Rainsy. These are people who are political figures and have been arrested and had their parliamentary entitlements and privileges stripped, and it is an extremely bad sign for democracy in Cambodia. I would have thought a unanimous resolution to that effect by this Senate would be something very productive. The United States Department of State has issued very strongly worded statements to that effect. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seeking to fulfil part of Senator Ludlam's wish, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is concerned that the Cambodian opposition leader, Mr Sam Rainsy, has had an arrest warrant issued against him in relation to a 2008 defamation case and has been removed from his parliamentary position, and by recent actions against opposition parliamentarians. Australia's Ambassador to Cambodia has raised our concerns with the Cambodian government, and our embassy in Phnom Penh continues to monitor the situation closely.

The government does not, however, believe it is appropriate or productive to use the parliament as a platform for statements that might be interpreted as interfering with Cambodia's right to determine its own judicial processes. We will continue to pursue these issues through private discussions with the Cambodian government. We support the United Nations Secretary-General in urging the Cambodian People's Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party to return to democratic dialogue free from fear of arrest or persecution.