Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
3:50 pm
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 312 standing in my name for today, relating to West Papua, be taken as a formal motion.
Sue Lines Deputy-President
Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? There is an objection, Senator Di Natale.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
In lieu of suspending, I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Again the Senate is denying the people of Australia an opportunity to hear about the atrocious human rights abuses that are being perpetrated in West Papua. Yesterday, 1 December, was West Papuan flag day. If you're in West Papua, you can't actually raise the Morning Star flag without risking prison. Since August, we've seen an unprecedented crackdown in West Papua, with more than 50 people killed and 22 charged with treason. These people aren't criminals; they're prisoners of conscience. In West Papua, if you were to fly the Morning Star flag—this is the Morning Star flag—
Sue Lines Deputy-President
Senator Di Natale, it's not appropriate to hold up props.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
You could be locked up indefinitely and charged with treason for flying the Morning Star West Papuan flag. It's well time that Australia takes a stand against this slow-motion genocide, calls for UN and foreign journalists to be let into West Papua and ensures that we request access to visit West Papuan prisoners of conscience.