Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—The Australian government cannot, unfortunately, support the proposed notice of motion in its current form. The Australian government would like again to place on the record its objection to dealing with complex international matters such as the one before us by means of formal motions. Such motions are a blunt instrument. They force parties into black and white choices to support or oppose. They do not lend themselves to the nuances which are so necessary in this area of policy. In addition, they can be and are too often easily misinterpreted by some audiences as statements of policy by the national government. The Australian government is happy to work with the minor parties, particularly the Greens, on notices of motion of this particular nature, but we will not support notices of motion in the Senate unless we are completely satisfied with their content.

The government’s views on the tragic events of 4 June 1989 are on the public record. The Prime Minister made a statement in parliament on 4 June 2009 remembering those who lost their lives on 4 June 1989. Australia will continue to engage frankly with China on questions of human rights, including at high-level meetings and through the Australia-China Human Rights Dialogue. The government believes the best way to encourage China to make further progress on human rights issues is through these channels and not through public condemnation.

While there have been many positive steps on human rights in China since 1989, there is, in Australia’s view, considerable room for further progress. The Australian government encourages China to address the concerns raised by the authors of Charter 08. The government will continue to make representations to China on the detention of Charter 08 signatories and others who were exercising internationally recognised liberties, including freedom of speech. Australia again calls for the release of internationally acclaimed author Liu Xiaobo.