(1)   Has he seen the document titled Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China by Mr David Matas and former Canadian Cabinet Minister, Mr David Kilgour.

(2)   What information does he have regarding allegations made in this report that China is engaged in the systematic murder of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for the purpose of harvesting kidneys, livers, corneas and other organs, for profit.

(3)   What steps has he taken to ascertain the truth of the allegations referred to in Part 2.

(4)   Has he raised the issue of alleged organ harvesting with the Chinese authorities; if so, (a) when and in what circumstances and (b) what was the response of the Chinese authorities; if not, will he do so.

(5)   Has he raised the issue of the large-scale arrest and imprisonment of Falun Gong practitioners with the Chinese authorities; if so, (a) when and in what circumstances and (b) what was the response of the Chinese authorities; if not, will he do so.

(6)   Did he issue instructions that, in order not to offend the Chinese Embassy, no Government Members or Senators were to attend the briefing given on 16 August by Mr David Kilgour and Mr Edward McMillan-Scott MEP at Parliament House.

(1)   Yes.

(2)   The Government is aware of differing assessments of the allegations of widespread organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. Mr Kilgour and Mr Matas concluded the allegations were true, but others have come to different conclusions. US Embassy and Consular officials visited Sujiatun, the location most frequently referred to in Falun Gong media reports, and found no evidence that the site was being used for any function other than as a normal public hospital. Harry Wu, a renowned activist on human rights in China, had his contacts examine Sujiatun and the surrounding area over the course of three weeks from 12 March. These contacts produced several reports and photographs from their investigations, which Mr Wu says show no signs of a “concentration camp”. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr Manfred Nowak, said in March that he would look into the allegations and submit a report to the Chinese Government if he found that the allegations were well-founded. He has not so far submitted any report. Reputable human rights organisations have issued no public comment to date.

(3)   My Department has sought information from and exchanged views with other governments, reputable human rights organisations, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. A senior DFAT official also met Mr Kilgour during his recent visit to Australia and discussed the report with him.

(4)   Yes.

(a)   My Department raised this issue with China during our annual human rights dialogue on 25 July 2006, and suggested that China address the allegations by allowing an independent, credible investigator unfettered access to facilities of his/her choosing. Australian officials have since reiterated this suggestion to the Chinese.

(b)   The Chinese said the allegations were fabrications.

(5)   Yes. The Government strongly opposes China’s ban on Falun Gong and its treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, which we consider breach fundamental human rights, including the rights of assembly and free expression.

(a)   We have raised China’s treatment of Falun Gong practitioners regularly since Falun Gong was banned in 1999. We have done this through our annual human rights dialogue, through our Embassy in Beijing and during high-level visits. I raised the issue myself during a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr Li Zhaoxing, during his visit to Australia in April this year, and with the leader of the Chinese delegation to the human rights dialogue, Assistant Minister Cui Tiankai, in July.

(b)   China responds that practitioners who have been arrested and imprisoned have broken Chinese laws.

(6)   No.