HISTORICAL EVENTS—SOVIET INVASION OF HUNGARY

Senator Bernardi, also on behalf of Senator Madigan, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved general business notice of motion no. 507—That the Senate notes that:

 (a) 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; and

 (b) the installed Hungarian communist leader, Mr Janos Kadar, oversaw the imprisonment of 21 600, internment of 13 000 and execution of 400 democrats, liberals and reformist communists, and the misguided support of the Soviet occupation of Hungary by the Communist Party of Australia, and the successor Socialist Party of Australia which, through its journal Survey, hailed comments by Mr Kadar that `in the building of socialism Hungary relies, in the first place, on the many-faceted cooperation with the Soviet Union'.

The Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown), by leave, moved the following amendment:

 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 Organization 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.

Statements by leave: The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) and Senators Bernardi, Bob Brown and Madigan, by leave, made statements relating to the matter.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put.

The Senate divided—

Question negatived.

Main question put.

The Senate divided—

Question negatived.