The Australian Greens are joining parliamentarians around the world in advocating for the right of the West Papuan people to determine their own political future.

"On the eve of our own election being called, how can we stand by and watch democracy fail so spectacularly for one of our close neighbours?" asked Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale, who in 2012 launched Australia's chapter of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.

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.

Markus Jerewon, Yuvensius Goo and Rofinus Yanggam entered the Australian Consulate in Bali last night and have released an open letter to the APEC leaders currently meeting in Bali.

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