Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (19:23): I rise to make some observations about a recent trip to Burma I undertook during the winter break before I travelled to Japan, which is a place I have wanted to visit for a very long period of time. Senators will be aware that each of the Australian Greens works within the foreign affairs portfolio on different issues, and in my instance I have been working with the people from the various parts of Burma, or Myanmar, in Perth, which I think has the largest population of people from that country of any Australian city.

Question
I understand that the AFP has a small group of people in Burma working in counternarcotics. Have there been any changes since the new regime for counter-narcotics, and what difference has that made for the AFP?

Answer
As a result of the democratic changes in Burma there has been no significant change in what is a very strong and productive relationship between the AFP and the Myanmar Police Force.

Thursday 31 May 2012 - Budget Estimates - Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee

AusAID

Wednesday 30 May 2012 - Budget Estimates - Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade

Burma

The Greens have questioned the Australian government's policy of 'neither encouraging nor discouraging' Australian businesses because investments particularly in Burma's oiil and gas industries, such as that of the Perth based Clough company, have enabled and supported the regime.  While recent reforms are welcome, Burma still has a long way to go before it can be considered democratic.  I remain gravely concerned about the between 493 and 852 political prisoners behind bars and the fact that th

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (15:52): I move:
That the Senate-
(a) notes:
(i) Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 of the 45 seats contested in the April 2012 by-election,
(ii) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD colleagues took their seats in the parliament on 2 May 2012,
(iii) that out of a total of 664 seats in the Burmese Parliament, the NLD holds 7 per cent, the military 25 per cent and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party more than 50 per cent,

The Australian Greens have welcomed Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's long-overdue entry into parliament but urged the Australian Government and international community to remain vigilant on human rights in Burma.

Greens Burma spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the by-elections that brought Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy members into parliament elected only 45 of a possible 664 seats in Burma's legislature.

The Australian Government will undermine the democracy movement in Burma by encouraging bilateral trade too soon, the Greens warned today.

Greens spokesperson on Burma Senator Scott Ludlam said today's announcement that the Government is "normalising trade" with Burma is dangerously premature.

Aung San Suu Kyi's success in Burmese elections on the weekend will bring joy and hope to countless millions struggling for their democratic rights, the Australian Greens said today.

"The world is celebrating with Aung San Suu Kyi today as our global society takes a step towards democracy for everyone," Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"Aung San Suu Kyi's courage and selfless determination coupled with commitment to nonviolence is turning the tide in Burma.

Senator Ludlam asked on Wednesday, 15 February 2012, Hansard page 35:

In terms of multilateral Navy exercises hosted by India in which Australia and Burma both participate, has Australia raised with India any concerns over Burmese participation?