Lisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) that 25 August 2018 marks one year since close to 700 000 Rohingya, mostly women and children, were forced to begin fleeing their homes in Rakhine State, Myanmar,

  (ii) that the Government of Bangladesh leads the humanitarian response and has kept its borders open to Rohingya refugees while the Bangladeshi people continue to show tremendous generosity and hospitality in the face of this massive influx,

  (iii) that since September 2017, Australia has contributed $70 million to the Rohingya crisis response and continues to have an important role calling for an outcome which allows Rohingya people to fully exercise their human rights,

  (iv) Australia's support for the implementation of recommendations from the report of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, and

  (v) the Australian community's generosity in providing financial support to the crisis; and

(b) urges the international community to:

  (i) support Bangladesh to provide an appropriate, principled humanitarian response to the needs of displaced and affected communities,

  (ii) ensure humanitarian aid is delivered where it is needed in accordance with fundamental human rights, and

  (iii) work with all parties in the pursuit of inclusive peace, reconciliation and to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State and condemns the human rights abuses that have occurred. Australia regularly raises concerns directly with the Myanmar government. Australia has supported resolutions of the Human Rights Council in the United Nations General Assembly calling for accountability, humanitarian access and implementation of the recommendations of Kofi Annan's advisory commission. We have responded generously to the Rohingya crisis, providing $70 million in humanitarian assistance since September 2017. Australia is working with the international community on long-term solutions for the Rohingya, including repatriation. Any returns of displaced Rohingya must be safe, voluntary and dignified. The government will respond to the United Nations fact-finding mission's final report once it is handed down in September.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government's response to this crisis has been unacceptably weak. We welcome the extra aid allocation to deal with what is a massive humanitarian crisis, but Australia ought to be joining other Five Eyes countries in imposing significant sanctions on the Myanmar regime. Specifically, Australia should cut its military ties and order its military liaison in Myanmar back to Australia. We should also impose all sanctions available to us on members of the junta in Myanmar, including freezing any financial assets they may have in this country and also ensuring that they are not granted visas to travel to Australia. We have to muscle up and defend those poor people who are languishing with inadequate supports.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It really amazes me in this place that you raise an issue to do with other countries around the world when we actually have 105,000 homeless people in Australia and we have drought affected farmers. We will not be supporting this motion. Since September of 2017, the Australian government has contributed $70 million to that effect, and I believe we should start cleaning up our own backyard first.

Question agreed to.