THE FAWCETT FLYER November 2017

THE FAWCETT FLYER November 2017 1 November 2017 A word from David The outcome of the Australian legal status of religious freedom Marriage Law Postal Survey led to I tabled on behalf of the Joint debate on the Smith Bill occurring Standing Committee of Foreign in the Senate last week. While Affairs, Defence and Trade last changing Australia’s marriage law week. is now task for the Parliament, so is protecting the freedom of As Chair of the Australia-Israel speech, association and religion. Parliamentary group I was happy to welcome Israel’s new These are foundational values for Ambassador to Australia, Mark our plural, liberal democracy yet Sofer, to an event in Parliament as many of you would be aware, last week marking the 70th they were subject to disgraceful anniversary of the 1947 creation attack during the conduct of the of the modern state of Israel. postal survey. Amendments Australia, through the minister to protect these freedoms that for External Affairs “Doc” Evans, I’d moved with Senator James played a pivotal role in the United Paterson were supported by most Nations to forge the agreement of my Coalition and cross-bench that led to a successful vote on colleagues but were voted down Resolution 181 in the General by the Senate during seven hours Assembly. Seventy years on, the of debate this week. Despite this relationship between Australia and setback, I will continue to work Israel continues to be strengthened constructively to ensure these by shared values and a resolve to freedoms are preserved in our law, work together on current issues building on the report into the such as cyber security. 1 November 2017 Delivering on the Government’s parliamentary sittings for this 2016 election commitment to year wind up. As Chair of develop a contemporary and the Legal Affairs Backbench comprehensive foreign policy Policy Committee I will be strategy, I joined the Prime facilitating Coalition Party Room Minister and Foreign Minister at consideration of legislation the launch of the Foreign Policy to create the Home Affairs White Paper. The White Paper department, as well as new provides a detailed and frank measures to counter espionage and assessment of the challenges foreign influence. Australia faces in our region and beyond, and sets out a framework Over the coming weeks I will to guide our response to increasing also be looking at governance risks that impact Australia’s and oversight issues raised by national interests. the creation of the Home Affairs department when the legislation These risks include the potential is examined by the Parliamentary for armed conflict between Joint Committee on Intelligence countries in our region, the and Security. Finally, following proliferation of nuclear weapons, a successful inquiry launch at a the spread of Islamic extremism, forum organised by the Australian cyber-attacks, espionage and Strategic Policy Institute, I will foreign interference, and growing lead the efforts of the Joint protectionist sentiment. At the Standing Committee on Foreign same time, the rapid growth of Affairs Defence and Trade to Asia’s middle class is increasing develop a framework to enable demand for Australian exports. more informed and transparent The region’s middle class is set to oversight of the management of grow to more than 3 billion over the Department of Defence. the next 20 years. Opportunities will be increasingly driven by this surge in middle class consumers, from India through to China and all the countries in between. Senator David Fawcett National security will continue to be a focus even as the The Fawcett Flyer 2 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper The Australian Government’s It describes five tasks set by the Foreign Policy White Paper, the Australian Government for Aus- first full review of Australia’s tralia’s future, including securing foreign policy in 14 years, sets out our interests in the Indo-Pacific strategies to strengthen Australia’s region. security and enhance our national prosperity. While Australia needs a competitive, flexible and growing economy As Chair of the Joint Standing to provide for a strong national Committee on Foreign Affairs, defence and sustain our influence Defence and Trade, I attended the on the world stage, we cannot rely official launch of the White Pa- on others for our security and per with the Prime Minister and prosperity. Foreign Minister in Canberra. The event recognised the delivery of a We must advocate and be prepared key 2016 election commitment. to defend our values on the global stage – freedom, liberal democra- The document clearly enshrines cy, rule of law, equality and mutual Australia’s national interest as respect. the primary determinant of our foreign policy, as we navigate an A copy of the White Paper can be evolving international order in a found at https://www.fpwhitepaper. contested and competitive world. gov.au/ Congratulating Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Prime Minister Mal- colm Turnbull on the launch of Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper. 3 November 2017 With Baroness Berridge and Julie Bishop discussing religious freedom. Religious Freedom On 22 November 2017 the Prime extends to other areas of polity. Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turn- bull announced a review to exam- The Australian Human Rights ine whether current Australian Commission has previously laws adequately protect the human recommended the Government right to religious freedom. consider strengthening the right to religious freedom by legislat- The review lead by former Attor- ing Article 18 of the International ney General and human rights Covenant on Civil and Political envoy, the Hon Philip Ruddock re- Rights into Australian anti-dis- sponds to growing concerns about crimination law. To date, however, the status of the right to freedom there has been no consensus on of thought, conscience and reli- the most appropriate or effective gion in Australian law. means of achieving this. The review should not be a con- As the Australian Government and sidered a substitute for relevant review panel think through this amendments to the same sex important issue, I welcomed the marriage bill currently before par- opportunity to meet with Baroness liament. It is instead a reflection Berridge and the Hon Julie Bishop that the right to manifest ones’ in Parliament on Monday the 28th religious or conscientious beliefs of November. and values either individually or in community goes beyond the Baroness Berridge, through immediate issue of marriage and partnership with the University The Fawcett Flyer 4 of Birmingham is the Principle cuss the benefits of promoting Investigator of the Commonwealth religious liberty as a fundamental Initiative for Freedom of Religion and beneficial component of a or Belief. Her work provides edu- plural, secular democracy. I look cation and advocacy to common- forward to the continued dialogue wealth nations to eliminate be- and findings from the Hon Philip lief-based persecution worldwide. Ruddock’s review into this important issue. It was a timely meeting to dis- Celebrating Israel As the Chair of the Australia-Israel Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Parliamentary Friendship Group, Affairs. I had the great honour of hosting the ‘Celebrating Israel’ function It is 100 years since Australian on November 29. The gala event soldiers captured the town of held in Parliament House, was a Beersheba with an audacious celebration of Israel’s history and cavalry charge in the afternoon of achievements over the past seventy 31 October 1917. We now recog- years, and featured an address by nise this victory as the foundation of a unique bond between Australia and Israel that has bridged the separation of distance and the passage of time. While Australia’s relationship with Israel is longstand- ing, it is underpinned by our shared values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. With a grandfather and great-uncle who served in the Light Horse in the Mid- dle East, I am aware that our 5 November 2017 shared history dates back to the saw Israel admitted to the United First World War. Nations in 1949. The distinguished Israeli representative Abba Eban Prior to entering Parliament I acknowledged Australia’s support had the opportunity to work with in this way: ‘the warmth and elo- Israel during my Defence career as quence with which you welcomed an experimental test pilot, devel- Israel into the family of nations, oping, testing, and collaborating have earned for you the undying on a range of aerospace capabili- gratitude of our people.’ ties. With that background, it was my pleasure to finally visit Israel Seven decades hence, reciprocal in 2012 as part of a delegation of visits by Prime Ministers Turnbull Parliamentarians. and Netanyahu underscore the strength of our relationship today. Australia has supported Israel’s Our two nations partner in agri- sovereign right to exist within culture, technology and finance, secure borders since its creation and we cooperate on challenges shortly after the Second World ranging from national security to War. When the UN General As- climate change. Long may this sembly voted to establish a Jew- friendship endure. ish state in 1947, the Australian delegation was the first to vote in favour of that proposal. The Aus- tralian Govern- ment was also one of the first to formally recognise Israel, and sponsored the resolution that The U.N. General Assembly approving Resolution 181. The Fawcett Flyer 6 Op-ed: Some things should be above politics ‘The goalposts weren’t just moved, abound. In our own region, a nu- they were cut down and used clear-armed North Korea, attempts for firewood.’ That’s how former to establish an Islamist caliphate in Defence Department secretary Southeast Asia, and concern over Dennis Richardson characterised trade routes through the South the impact of defence budget cuts China Sea are but three examples.

Load more