Statement on Indulgence to the House of Representatives on Libya

Parliament House, Canberra

Statement, check against delivery, E&OE

24 February 2011

The Australian Government absolutely condemns the use of violent force in Libya against its population.

Reports are that around 300 lives have been lost, but some estimate as much as up to 1,000.

Colonel Gaddafi's threat to purge Libya "house by house" and "inch by inch" of the protest movement is despicable.

The international community has a responsibility to take firm action in response.

I warmly welcomed the call by UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, for an international investigation into possible human rights violations.

The Human Rights Commission will meet this Friday and it is critical that the Council gives careful consideration to how best to respond to Libya's crisis.

I will travel to Geneva to attend a Special Session of the Human Rights Council and will urge prompt and united action by the international human rights community.

The Australian Government also welcomes the Arab League's strongly worded statement yesterday following from its emergency talks, and the League's decision to suspend Libya.

The UNSC met yesterday and, in its statement, called on the Government of Libya to meet its responsibility to protect its population.

I note with concern that the Australian Government has received reports an Australian citizen may have been detained by Libyan officials on the evening of 21 February 2011 in Tripoli.

The Australian Consul-General in Tripoli has requested confirmation of the reported detention by diplomatic note and is seeking immediate consular access.

No response has yet been received from Libyan authorities.

A dual Australian/Libyan national was also reported to us on 6 December 2010 as being detained.

Australia's Consul-General also has requested by diplomatic note that Libyan authorities confirm whether this person has been detained and requested immediate consular access.

Libyan authorities have confirmed his detention but have not provided consular access.

Today, I called in Libya's Ambassador to Australia.

I reminded him of Libya's obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

I conveyed Australia's expectation that immediate consular access be granted to these men in accordance with these international obligations.

We are also in close contact with the men's families and are providing them with consular assistance.

The Australian Government currently has 47 registered Australians still in Libya. Another 12 are on board a ferry waiting to depart Tripoli. Another 4 are on a privately chartered ferry in Tripoli which will leave around time. Of those still in Libya, 35 wish to depart and we have been unable to contact 12.

We call on the Libyan Government to immediately facilitate visas for our Australian consular staff to enter Libya to assist with the evacuation of Australians.

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