David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to conflict in Iran, as circulated in the Senate, on behalf of Senators Ciccone, Chandler, Smith, Shoebridge and myself and for the motion to be determined without amendment or debate.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senators Ciccone, Chandler, Smith and Shoebridge, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with grave concern credible reports of widespread, brutal and in many cases deadly violence perpetrated by the Iranian regime against peaceful protesters, including reports of indiscriminate killings of civilians, the targeting of women and children, mass arrests and the suppression of basic freedoms through internet and communications blackouts;

(b) acknowledges the profound distress, fear and anguish being experienced by members of the Iranian-Australian community, many of whom have been unable to contact family and friends in Iran and have received harrowing accounts and footage of violence, repression and loss;

(c) expresses its solidarity with the people of Iran and with Iranian-Australians at this time, and affirms the right of all people to protest peacefully, to access information and to live free from state-perpetrated violence and intimidation; and

(d) calls on the Australian Government to continue working with international partners, including the United Nations and like-minded states, to:

(i) support independent international investigations into human rights violations in Iran,

(ii) press for accountability for those responsible for atrocities against civilians,

(iii) strengthen and expand targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses, and

(iv) continue to advocate for the immediate end to violence, the restoration of full communications and internet access, the permanent cessation of executions, and the protection of civilians.

I thank Senate colleagues for their constructive engagement on this issue.

Question agreed to.