AUSTRALIA was about to enter a quick-buck trade deal with a country that severely oppressed its citizens, the Australian Democrats said today.
Australia and China are on the verge of deciding whether to go ahead with formal negotiations on a free trade agreement after spending the past 18 months examining the possibility of a deal.
But the Democrats former leader, Andrew Bartlett, said Australia should be far more vocal about Beijing’s human rights abuses.
“We’ve had a government that’s been preaching at us for a couple of years now about what great defenders they are of freedom by invading Iraq,” Senator Bartlett said.
“Yet (with) a massive human rights abuser like China, we go racing off trying to find a quick buck.
“This is a country that executes more of its own citizens than any other country in the world, that’s occupied Tibet for decades with massive oppression, that locks people on their political views or their religious or philosophical views, such as Falun Gong practitioners.”
He said many Australians had direct relatives who suffered at the hands of the Chinese Government.
Australian Progressive Alliance Senator Meg Lees urged care as the Government talks with China.
“Having been there a number of times there is still a long way to go before we can be comfortable that that country really is a functioning democracy – well, it’s a long way from that.
“There’s more to it than just making some money.
“We have to look at issues like the Falun Gong, the environment and what little requirement there is in China for appropriate treatment of workers and workplace types of reform.”
