"Last week the  government cut 28 million dollars of aid to Burma. A week later they want a 'pat on the back' for restoring less than a quarter of that" Greens spokesperson for Immigration Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"It's time Australia was genuine with the humanitarian assistance we give our regional neighbours. Australia should restore all foreign aid cuts to Burma and apply diplomatic action focused on addressing human rights abuses against the Rohingyan people.

While the Australian Government pushes open slather trade with Burma, the country is plagued by sectarian violence and the continued use of child soldiers by the Burmese government, the Greens said today.

Greens spokesperson on Burma, Senator Scott Ludlam, said "the resource-rush which appears to be driving Australian foreign policy on Burma may perversely end up consolidating the regime's hold on power and attendant human rights abuses. The Australian Government should urgently rethink its sanctions policy, lest ‘constructive engagement' end up as complicity".

The Australian Government must use its seat on the UN Security Council to initiate immediate action in response to the horrifying rise of anti-Muslim violence and ongoing military brutality in Burma, the Greens said today.

The visit of Burmese president U Thein Sein must be used by the Australian Government to promote human rights in Burma and press for a free and fair election in 2015, the Greens said today.

Australian Greens spokesperson on Burma Senator Scott Ludlam said the Government must put much more than trade on the tour agenda.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr's enthusiasm for making Burma ‘open for business' will undermine the movement for further reform, the Australian Greens warned today.

Greens spokesperson for Burma Senator Scott Ludlam said "Minister Carr's lobbying of European politicians to permanently lift sanctions on Burma is hazardous in its haste".

"The European Union suspended, rather than abolished, sanctions on Burma because there is still much work to be done on human rights and political freedom in the country.

More than two weeks of ferocious military strikes against Kachin rebels and civilians in Burma show the army still has a strong grip on power in the country, the Greens warned today.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said Australian authorities had "enthusiastically pursued renewed diplomatic and trade relations with Burma without considering the ongoing violence and repression within the country - undermining the incentive for further reform".

Moves to build military ties between Canberra and Rangoon could potentially weaken the movement for reforms in Burma, the Greens warned today.

Senator Scott Ludlam queried the terms of engagement proposed by Prime Minister Gillard in resuming military ties with Burma while the Burmese army continues to persecute ethnic minorities.

"If this is about assisting the regime with security sector reform and improving operating procedures that have shocked the world in past decades, then there may be some value in closer ties.

(Question No. 1825)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 3 May 2012:

(Question No. 1954)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 5 July 2012:

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (15:47): by leave-I seek leave to amend general business notice  of motion No. 962 standing in my name, relating to  political prisoners in Burma, before be asking that it be taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

Senator LUDLAM: Thank you. I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

(i) important steps have been taken towards political reform in Burma,

(ii) on 19 September 2012 Burmese authorities released several dozen political prisoners, and