Joint media release:
- Senator Claire Chandler, Shadow Assistance Minister for Foreign Affairs
16 September 2024
Today we acknowledge the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Jina Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
The Coalition, in solidarity with the Iranian-Australian community, continue to call for action against the horrific oppression of women, girls, protesters and critics of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran (IRI).
It has now been 18 months since the Senate inquiry on human rights implications of violence in Iran and it is devastating for the Iranian-Australian community that this Labor Government has only accepted two of the 12 recommendations from the report.
The IRI has demonstrated time and again over recent months that it continues to be a danger to its own citizens, and to citizens of many other countries as a result of its sponsorship of terrorism. Australia should play our part in holding the regime accountable for its abhorrent actions.
Despite acknowledging that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) is involved in terrorism, the Government has also rejected the Senate inquiry’s recommendation that necessary steps be taken to enable the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist group.
There is no excuse for Australia not to follow the lead of Canada and the US in listing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, and we call on the Albanese Labor Government to take immediate action so that Australia sends a clear message that we do not tolerate acts of terrorism, no matter who commits or supports them.
The Coalition has repeatedly made clear that we offer our bipartisan support for any actions required to enable the listing of the IRGC.
While the Coalition welcomes the application of additional sanctions today it is for the Albanese Government to explain why these actions took twelve months longer for Australia to apply than in the United States, seemingly awaiting anniversaries or media opportunities rather than being taken as quickly as possible.
For two long years, Iranian women and girls have shown bravery to fight for their basic human rights and Australia’s position should reflect their courage. We join with the diaspora community in urging the Government to take stronger action and reiterate our bipartisan support for them to do so.
Woman. Life. Freedom.
ENDS