Senator LUDLAM (4:22 PM) —I seek leave to make a very brief statement.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Leave is granted for two minutes.

Senator LUDLAM —I just want to draw the attention of senators to the motion, No. 721 on the Notice Paper. You might like to have a quick look at what it is you are about to vote down, which I presume is what is about to occur. This motion does not actually call on the government to do anything except note the facts of the situation on the ground. I acknowledge that the previous motion, on Burma, actually did call on the Australian government to undertake some significant and quite important changes in Australian foreign policy on that matter. This one does not. It asks the government, in fact, to do exactly what the minister just said, in his exact words: to continue to monitor the progress of talks between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama, and other similar clauses. You are about to vote down something that is so innocuous I was almost embarrassed to put it up. This is not about delicate matters of foreign policy, and yet the entire chamber seems, on instinct, prepared to simply line up and knock it off. This is a long way—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order!

Senator Milne interjecting—

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! I want to hear Senator Ludlam.

Senator LUDLAM —I will take that interjection from Senator Milne because I have absolutely no doubt that there is a lot of support in this chamber for the aspirations of the Tibetan people under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A number of us here have had the honour of meeting the Dalai Lama or his representatives in Australia at different times—but don’t come out and do that and then vote down something that effectively calls on the Senate to note the facts on the ground, which is really all we are doing here today. It is an awful shame that the major parties will vote it down. I just ask you to read the motion. I know that does not always happen; we are all busy people. Just read what it is you are about to vote down. I would greatly appreciate that.

Question put: