Mr BRERETON (2:00 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It concerns his agreement to Sri Lanka's request for the appointment of Major General Perera as the next Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia. What inquiries did you or your department make concerning the allegations of human rights abuses in areas of Sri Lanka where the major general held military commands? What was the precise nature of the assurance given to you by the Sri Lankan foreign minister concerning this diplomatic appointment?

Mr DOWNER (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —I thank the honourable member for the question. Can I say that the government, in this case through my department, did carefully examine the appointment of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, as we examine the appointment of all ambassadors and high commissioners to Australia. In this particular case, these considerations have not established any basis from which the Australian government could challenge the Sri Lankan government's advice that the high commissioner is a worthy and suitable appointment. I myself did speak to the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Kadirgamar, about this some time ago—I do not have the date with me but it was quite some weeks ago now—from my home. We had a discussion about the appointment of General Perera, and the foreign minister made it clear to me, as we have said on a number of occasions, that he regarded the general as a worthy and suitable appointment.

We have been made aware of claims, and we have sought to indicate that the circumstances of the high commissioner's military service meant that he was likely to have served in areas where human rights abuses were alleged to have occurred, but none of these claims, my department advises me, has been backed by any direct evidence of his involvement. I understand that the high commissioner has endeavoured to correct what he believes to be errors of fact. As a senior commander in the Sri Lankan army, Major General Perera's nomination was bound to attract some criticism from those on the other side of the conflict in Sri Lanka. I note that I have received representations from the Sri Lankan community in Australia, both supporting very strongly as well as opposing very strongly the appointment of General Perera.

Australia does take its human rights responsibilities very seriously and we have actively sought to promote respect for human rights in Sri Lanka, including during my visit there some time ago. We have constant dialogue with the Sri Lankan government at different levels. It is most unusual in the extreme for the Australian government to reject the nomination of a high commissioner or an ambassador. These appointments are made at the end of the day—although the government does have the prerogative to reject them—by the relevant government, not by the Australian government.