That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 1 December 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the raising of the Morning Star flag by the people of West  Papua, a day celebrated as the  unofficial day of Papuan independence, and

(ii) the Papuan people will celebrate this anniversary  with gatherings and protests throughout the province as is 

their legal right; and

(b) calls on the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Rudd) to:

(i) pay close attention to the events that unfold in West Papua on this date, and

(ii) express to the Indonesian Government Australia‘s hopes that no human rights abuses will be committed on the West Papuan people on this anniversary.

The PRESIDENT:    Leave  is granted for two minutes.

Senator LUDWIG:    I thank the Senate. The government does not support this motion, does not support dealing with complex foreign policy matters by way of a simple Senate resolution. I do wish again to inform the Senate the Australian government has discussed the broader question of human rights in the Papuan provinces with the Indonesian government and has said that Indonesia should respect the rights of all its citizens. The Australian government respects Indonesia's territorial integrity, including its sovereignty over the Papuan provinces. This is a longstanding bipartisan position that was enshrined in 2008 with the ratification of the Lombok Treaty. The government also recognises that, under President Yudhoyono, Indonesia's human rights record and scope for freedom of expression have improved markedly. Finally, the Senate will be aware that Australia is expanding its $40 million development assistance program to the Papuan provinces.

Senator DI NATALE (Victoria) (12:10): Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

The PRESIDENT:    Leave is granted for two minutes.

Senator DI NATALE:    Next week the West Papuan people will celebrate their unofficial date of independence, 50 years since the West Papuan community first raised the Morning Star flag and sang their national anthem. It is clear, based on recent events, that conflict is escalating in West Papua. Only several weeks ago a number of people were arrested and detained, and we understand that a number of people remain in prison at this time. In addition, a number of people were killed. We understand that at least six people were killed as a result of the third West Papuan People's Congress, where people were seeking their right to determine their own future.

We understand that next week a series of protests will be held in West Papua, across the West Papuan 

community. We also understand now that the Indonesian government has expressed that no dissent from the state of Indonesia will be tolerated. We understand that there is the serious potential for more conflict in the region. We know, based on recent events, that the human rights of the West Papuan  community are under threat and that in fact we may see  a number of executions committed in the coming week. We want to see the Australian government take a leadership role on this issue. We want to see the foreign minister express in the strongest possible terms to his counterpart in Indonesia that Australia will not tolerate any human rights abuses, in fact any violence, on the West Papuan community. Finally I would say, through you, Mr President, that if a motion is not an appropriate way for dealing with issues of foreign policy, please tell me what is.