STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator THORPE (Victoria—Independent VIC Whip) (13:53): This past Saturday marked 64 years since the New York Agreement between the Netherlands and Indonesia that saw the Dutch leave their colony of West Papua and transfer it to the United Nations. The agreement gave way to the UN transferring control of West Papua to Indonesia. Under the agreement, the people of West Papua were supposed to vote for either independence or integration with Indonesia, but this promise was never fulfilled.

In 1969, only about a thousand people in West Papua were allowed to vote on the so-called act of free choice. This vote formalised Indonesia's control over the territory. Since then, West Papuans have fought for their independence and self-determination, and time and again they have paid the price with violence, oppression and their lives.

On Saturday, peaceful demonstrations were met with police violence, including beatings, firing of rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons, leaving demonstrators injured. The Labor government is silent on the oppression of West Papuans while at the same time strengthening its partnership with the Indonesian military. On the 64th anniversary of the New York Agreement, I stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in West Papua who demand their sovereignty be recognised, their right to self-determination upheld and to live free from fear.

Labor must end its military relationship with Indonesia and do everything it can to ensure an independent West Papua.