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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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Youth Allowance
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Australian Defence Industries
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Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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Youth
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Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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Peng: Mr James
(Mr CHARLES, Mr DOWNER) -
Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
(Mr BEAZLEY, Mr TIM FISCHER) -
Science and Technology
(Mr McARTHUR, Mr McGAURAN) -
Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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Meat Inspection
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Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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Essendon Airport: Airport Management Advisory Committee
(Mr Kelvin Thomson, Mr Sharp) -
Evergreen Airlines: Vented Fuel
(Mr Albanese, Mr Sharp) -
East Perth Development Project
(Mr Stephen Smith, Mr Sharp) -
Essendon Airport: Aircraft Movements
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Canberra-Nara Peace Park
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Commonwealth Buildings: Fire Protection
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Essendon Airport: Airport Management Advisory Committee
Page: 6111
Mr CHARLES
—My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Has the minister seen reports about the fate of Mr James Peng who is in prison in China? Is the government acting to assist Mr Peng's release and deportation from China?
Mr DOWNER
—I thank the honourable member for La Trobe for his question, Mr Speaker, and recognise the interest that he has shown, as have many other members of the government parties, in the fate of James Peng. During the course of this morning I asked the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to meet with me. During a discussion about the James Peng case, the Chinese ambassador told me that Mr Peng had been moved from Dongguan prison, which is about 150 kilometres from Guangzhou, to Quingpu prison in Shanghai. Consular access will be provided for the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai, and we expect a consular visit will take place very soon. The ambassador has assured me that access will also be provided to Mr Peng's family.
Mr Speaker, I will not speculate on media reports of why Mr Peng's transfer has happened or the current circumstances of his case. I do not believe it would be in Mr Peng's interests for me to do so. In our missions in China, we remain in very close contact with the Chinese authorities on this case. I reiterated to the Chinese ambassador the government's clear position that the matter is best resolved by Mr Peng's deportation from China as soon as possible.
The government has been assiduous in its efforts on Mr Peng's behalf. We have endeavoured to lend all possible consular support to Mr Peng, including monthly visits by consular officials, and we have raised this case repeatedly with Chinese leaders and officials. As the House would know, the Prime Minister raised it with Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng at the beginning of April, I raised it with the visiting Chinese justice minister, and both the Prime Minister and I discussed the Peng case with Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji on 27 May during his visit here.
The government will be continuing to press the Chinese government for Mr Peng's immediate release and deportation from China. I think the news we have heard today about Mr Peng's whereabouts and the consular access that will be made available to Mr Peng is indeed encouraging.