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Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Page: 7994

Senator BOB BROWN (Tasmania—Leader of the Australian Greens) (16:10): I seek leave to move an amended motion, which has been circulated in the chamber. It would replace paragraph (b) with the words the chamber agreed to on the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising.

Leave granted.

Senator BOB BROWN: I move:

Omit all words after “That the Senate” substitute:

(a)   notes that 24 October 2011 was the 55th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Hungary, during which 20 000 Hungarians were killed, while 200 000 fled as refugees;

(b)   commends the people of Hungary as they mark the 55th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which set the stage for the ultimate collapse of communism in 1989 throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary and 2 years later in the Soviet Union itself;

(c)   expresses condolences to the people of Hungary for those who lost their lives fighting for the cause of Hungarian freedom and independence in 1956, as well as for those individuals executed by the Soviet and Hungarian communist authorities in the 5 years following the revolution, including Prime Minister Imre Nagy;

(d)   welcomes the changes that have taken place in Hungary since 1989, believing that Hungary’s integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, together with similar developments in the neighbouring countries, will ensure peace, stability and understanding among the great peoples of the Carpathian Basin;

(e)   reaffirms the friendship and cooperative relations between the governments of Hungary and Australia and between the Hungarian and Australian people; and

(f)   recognises the contribution of people of Hungarian origin to this nation.