The Australian – March 11, 2016 – Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been accused of turning “a blind eye” to Iran’s human rights abuses in her efforts to repatriate thousands of rejected asylum-seekers.
As Ms. Bishop alleged a “reckless campaign of hysterical misinformation” over Australia’s ties to Tehran, Labor frontbenchers seized on revelations in The Australian that the frigate HMAS Darwin had on February 27 intercepted illicit arms apparently originating from Iran and bound for rebels in Yemen.
The Australian Defense Force’s official statement on the interception did not mention Iranian involvement. However the US Navy believes Iran was the origin of the boat, its crew and its cargo — about 2000 AK-47 assault rifles, 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers and 50 heavy machine guns concealed under fishing nets.
Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, is scheduled to visit Australia next week and is expected to discuss with Ms Bishop possible arrangements to deal with a backlog of failed asylum claims.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said she was “amazed” at the Foreign Minister’s eagerness to engage with the repressive [Islamic] republic [of Iran].
“The Foreign Minister has been … so prepared to turn a blind eye to the anti-American rhetoric of the Iranian government, the anti-Israeli rhetoric of the Iranian government, to the human rights abuses, where people are locked up for their sexuality, for following a religion that’s not approved of by the regime, and most particularly, for political organization against an oppressive government,” she said.
Ms Plibersek also drew attention to Iran’s “funding and arming groups that are engaged in serious conflict in Yemen, in Syria, and in other countries”.
Bill Shorten’s parliamentary secretary, Michael Danby, said Ms Bishop had “effectively censored herself” over Iran, noting her failure to condemn the country’s reported missile tests, weapon shipments or ridicule of the Holocaust.
The Defense Department, asked on Thursday morning whether the information was withheld to avoid jeopardizing relations with Tehran, had still not responded.
Labor senators will move for a parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s suspension of sanctions against Iran in line with