15 November 2010

69  MR DANBY: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs—In respect of Chinese human rights lawyer Mr Gao Zhisheng:

(1) Has the Government raised the following issues with the Chinese Government: (a) that on 20 April 2010 Mr  Gao was allegedly taken from the home of a relative by security agents; and (b) since then, Mr Gao family has not seen or heard from him, nor received information on his whereabouts; if so, what was the outcome; if not, when will these issues be raised and in what context.

(2) Has the Government raised the following issues with the Chinese Government, that: (a) in 2006 Mr Gao was charged with ‘inciting subversion’ for defending religious minorities and other clients considered controversial; and (b) after Mr Gao’s sentence was suspended, he was allegedly harassed and periodically detained, including from February 2009 until March 2010; if so, what was the outcome; if not, when will these issues be raised and in what context.