Furthermore, Australia's Ambassador to Burma does not oppose the Government's attempts to improve human rights in Burma. There can be no argument about the extent of human rights abuses in Burma. The question is what to do to improve the situation. Our approach to Burma arose from the repeated failure of other approaches to improve the political and human rights situation there. These are the only positive developments in human rights in Burma over the past decade.
Labor offers no solution.
Their approach is to do nothing, and achieve nothing. It is clear Labor is attempting to appease special interest groups instead of supporting constructive, practical solutions that will deliver long-term results. Mr Brereton's constant hysterical and hyperbolic attacks on countries in our region give the lie to any Labor Party claims to being fully committed to engagement with Asia.