The Australian Greens have today called on the Abbott Government not to mistake the use of force with showing genuine strength when it comes to helping the four million people fleeing Syria.

“Four million people are fleeing war in Syria at a time when there are record numbers of displaced people around the world. We are strong enough to give a home to 20,000 extra refugees without trading one vulnerable fleeing family for another,” said Australian Greens Leader, Dr Richard Di Natale.

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale says it shouldn't be up to Tony Abbott or the United States to decide if Australia will join air strikes in Syria.

"Australia needs to have its own independent foreign policy, and the Parliament should decide whether or not we send Australians into harm's way," Senator Di Natale said.

"Ultimately it doesn't matter if the request to bomb Syria came from Mr Abbott or the US - the only way to be sure that political self-interest doesn't determine whether our troops are put in danger is for the Parliament to decide.

Senator Di Natale to move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

Australian Greens spokesperson for West Papua, Senator Richard Di Natale, today welcomed the comments by the Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe that West Papua is now open to journalists and human rights monitors and has announced that he will visit the province.

“I had been planning to visit West Papua and today I’m announcing my intention to do so in the coming months,” said Senator Di Natale, founding co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of West Papua group. “I will invite a delegation of journalists and human rights representatives to join me on the trip.”

Australian Greens spokesperson for West Papua, Senator Richard Di Natale, today has written to the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to request a full account of the events relating to three West Papuans entering the Australian Consulate in Bali over the weekend. “Given that the lives of three West Papuans were potentially put at risk by the actions of the Australian Consulate over the weekend, it’s crucial that we get to the bottom of conflicting reports about what actually took place,” said Senator Di Natale, founding co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of West Papua group.

Australian Greens Senator, Richard Di Natale, today called on Trade Minister Andrew Robb to explain misleading remarks about West Papuans who visited the Australian consulate in Bali over the weekend to raise awareness of human rights issues in West Papua. “Andrew Robb stated very clearly that the three Papuans left voluntarily. But after hearing directly from the West Papuans involved, we now know the truth is that they only did so after being threatened with being handed over to the Indonesian police,” said Senator Di Natale.

Australian Greens Senator, Dr Richard Di Natale, today called for the Australian Government to immediately offer sanctuary to three West Papuans.

Australian Greens Senator, Dr Richard Di Natale, has condemned the Australian Foreign Minister’s comments in Senate Estimates where he blamed the escalating tensions in West Papua on the international human rights movement.

“Senator Carr’s comments are a clear acknowledgement that human rights abuses, killings and incarceration of political prisoners in the province of West Papua are escalating but rather than show leadership he has blamed people like me who are campaigning for an end to the violence,” said Senator Di Natale