Following reports of a mass forced-labour program in Tibet, Greens Senator Janet Rice has called on the Chinese Government to allow access to the region so journalists and officials can look into these allegations. 

Quotes attributable to Senator Janet Rice, Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson

“Reports of a mass labour program in Tibet are deeply disturbing. This program has dangerous parallels with the enforced labour, indoctrination and surveillance of the Uighur people.

The Dalai Lama's 2013 tour will take his message of compassion, happiness and positivity to even more Australians, the Australian Greens said today.

"I'm really pleased that His Holiness will be visiting my city of Adelaide next year for the first time," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet and South Australian Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, said.

"More than 65,000 people attended his gatherings last year and I'm certain there will be many more in 2013 now that he will visit more capitals.

Australia's new Foreign Minister has failed to stand up for Tibetans and condemn repression which has caused nearly 30 people to set themselves on fire in the past three years, the Australian Greens said today.

"Bob Carr could have spoken up about the circumstances which have led Tibetan religious figures and ordinary people to take these desperate actions, but he didn't," Greens' human rights spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

The Australian Greens support Tibetans who are holding Uprising Anniversary gatherings around Australia today marking their struggle through five decades of occupation by China.

"We stand with Tibetans in Australia and around the world who are marking 53 years since the beginning of their struggle against Chinese oppression," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"We back their peaceful campaign for a free Tibet and join with Tibetans who want an end to the unrest which has claimed around 50 lives in the past year alone.

Bob Carr should use his new position to raise concerns about the Chinese government's media blackout imposed in Tibet since January 24th which is denying journalists the ability to report on ongoing repression and human rights abuses, the Australian Greens said today.

"As a former journalist himself, Mr Carr would know first-hand the role the media plays in informing citizens about things their government would rather not talk about or have the rest of the world know," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said.

A Greens' motion calling on the Australian government to urge the Chinese government to restore press freedom, following a media blackout since January 24th over the continuing unrest in Tibet and surrounding areas, has been defeated today in the Senate.

"Once again, the government and Coalition have combined to defeat an attempt to shed greater light on the ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

The Australian Greens at their national conference on Sunday responded to the plight of Tibet by passing a resolution that recognised self-determination for Tibetan peoples and condemned the ongoing repression of Tibetans by the Chinese government.

"The old parties may go on ignoring Tibetan people, but the Greens are again using their voices to highlight Tibetan peoples' rights to their traditional homelands and to spiritual and political expression," Greens' spokesperson for Tibet, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

The Australian Greens say they are disappointed but not surprised that Labor and the Coalition united to vote down a motion about deteriorating human rights conditions in Tibet.

"Since March this year at least four monks and one nun have taken their lives by self-immolation in acts of protest to highlight abuses against Tibetan people," Greens' Tibet spokesperson, Sen. Hanson-Young, said today.

"Our Senate motion urged the Australian government to raise these matters with its Chinese counterpart, but the old parties declined to back it.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG: I move the motion as amended:

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says the self-immolation of nine Tibetan monks and nuns this year requires a response from Australia and other nations doing business with China.

"The silence of the world on the repression of Tibetan Buddhism and vilification of the Dalai Lama by Beijing are a daily reminder of the way corporate greed overrides human rights in global affairs," Senator Brown said.