Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Birmingham, stepping in for Senator Payne today. On 2 October journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. He's been missing since then. It is widely reported that Turkish officials have evidence that he was murdered, tortured and dismembered inside the consulate. Minister, could you please update the chamber on any recent developments in relation to the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi? I understand that Senator Ruston read out the other day that the government has expressed concern to Saudi Arabia over this issue. But have you sought an explanation in response to these allegations, and can you outline that to the chamber?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Whish-Wilson for his question. I can confirm that the Australian government has expressed our concerns in relation to this deeply concerning matter. The foreign minister, Senator Payne, has raised those concerns in a meeting with the Saudi Arabian ambassador. We note that a joint Turkish-Saudi investigation into the disappearance is occurring, and that is a welcome step. The Australian government has called for that investigation to be conducted in good faith, with full cooperation, and to be reported transparently once results are drawn up.

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

Senator Whish-Wilson, a supplementary question.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for outlining your concern on this matter. The so-called Davos of the Desert investment summit will be held in Riyadh next week. In the wake of this journalist's disappearance, a large number of companies and governments are boycotting this event. Minister, I understand that Austrade is still currently advertising this event as a 'valuable opportunity to explore investment partnerships with Saudi Arabia in priority sectors'—services and technology, agriculture and food, resources and energy, et cetera. Will you also boycott this event, and are you still sending government officials? (Time expired)

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As is publicly known, I am not attending that event. The Australian government continues to closely monitor the event. As trade minister, I will have a look at what public advice Austrade may be giving in relation to that event at present, although of course attendance at it by non-government organisations or businesses is a matter for those entities.

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

Senator Whish-Wilson, a final supplementary question.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was hoping I might have got a point of order there in the last few seconds, but—

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

I think the minister's concluded his answer.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm pushing my luck a little bit. All right, my second supplementary question: Minister, if Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by the Saudi regime and this is proven by the investigation, it will only confirm their status as one of the worst abusers of human rights on the planet, including by waging a war in Yemen, which, according to the United Nations, is the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet. Minister, why is your government wanting to sell more arms and weapons technology to this regime? Will you review this in light of recent developments?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, in relation to Yemen, we urge all parties in that conflict to maintain accountable rules of engagement to prevent avoidable civilian casualties. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Yemen, particularly around renewed fighting in certain port districts. In relation to Defence industry matters, as Minister Pyne already stated publicly when he was the Minister for Defence Industry, the target markets for Defence exports are countries like the United States, Canada, the UK and New Zealand in the first instance. We are cognisant that the Middle East is a complex security and political environment—

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance: could the minister please address whether the government will be reviewing the status of these exports in light of the current situation?

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

Senator Whish-Wilson, I was listening carefully and I think the minister was being directly relevant to the question. I can't instruct the minister how to answer a question but he was being directly relevant to the subject matter of the question.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Any Defence export opportunities to the Middle East will continue to be considered and balanced under our rigorous export control system to ensure they do not prejudice Australia's defence, security and international relations and are consistent with international obligations and commitments.