Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
3:42 pm
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 927, standing in my name and the name of Senator Rhiannon for today, relating to the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh, be taken as a formal motion.
Sue Lines Deputy-President
Is there any objection to the motion being taken as formal?
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
Yes.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
In lieu of suspending standing orders, I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Once again we see the Liberal Party blocking the will of the Senate and refusing to allow us the chance to vote on an important motion. The Greens are extremely concerned about reports that Bangladeshi security forces have killed more than 100 people in the last few months. Members of Australia's Bangladeshi community have raised their fears directly with us. They want us to raise this issue in our parliament. We reiterate the call of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that extrajudicial killings must be halted and halted immediately. As Bangladesh's regional neighbour, I hope that the government will show come courage, encourage proper judicial processes, call for the immediate release of political prisoners and help the Bangladeshi government with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
3:43 pm
I seek leave to make a short statement.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
In line with the longstanding view of successive governments, given that formal motions cannot be debated or amended, they should not deal with complex and contested foreign policy matters. The Senate should not consider and vote on foreign policy motions of this kind without the ability to have a full debate given that they involve serious and substantial issues.