The opposition’s foreign affairs spokesman,Simon Birmingham,launched the attack on theanniversary of the finding made by the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights,who said China’s forced detention and treatment of Uyghurs “may constitute international crimes,in particular crimes against humanity”.
Last October,China rallied its allies at the Human Rights Council to block a debate on the finding.
But individual countries have subsequently introduced sanctions and targeted travel bans against Chinese officials believed responsible for the systemic abuse of Uyghurs,which the UK’s House of Commons has declared is genocide.
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Senator Birmingham said that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had not responded to his offer to participate in a bipartisan statement of support of sanctions.
“Disappointingly,there has been little action from the Albanese government in response to this report. Despite repeated calls from the Uyghur community in Australia and offers of bipartisanship from the Coalition,Labor has chosen not to utilise the responses available to them,” Birmingham said.
“The Albanese government’s inaction stands in contrast to the actions taken by the European Union,UK,US and Canada,who have pursued those responsible with targeted sanctions,including travel bans and asset freezes.”