Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It is very alarming indeed that the minister has made that statement, because one has to take from it that Mr Campos may well leave the country before police investigations are finished and before the Commonwealth prosecutors have an opportunity to make a decision as to whether a prosecution can be made against Mr Campos based on evidence from real people who were tortured in Timor Leste during the period of occupation in which it is alleged Mr Campos was a collaborator. I am very alarmed indeed, and I hope the Senate will share that alarm, that Mr Campos may, in the coming days—certainly in the coming weeks—go back to Timor Leste or to Indonesia and be out of reach of the criminal justice system in Australia.

This nation has never, as far as I know, brought to court a war criminal within its borders. There are very serious allegations against Guy Campos. He should not leave the country until the Australian Federal Police has finished its investigations or until the prosecutor has made a determination. That is the challenge in this motion from the Senate to the government. I certainly hope the Senate will support this motion because it puts on notice to the government that it ought to allow the Australian investigation and policing system run its full course before Guy Campos leaves the country.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Bob Brown’s) be agreed to.