The Australian Greens have called for the Minister for Defence to inquire into why the Australian Defence Force has no information about 65% of the military aid projects it has funded in the Uruzgan province, why it does not evaluate them or know if they have been subject to attack ("Defence's build and forget line cops flak in Senate", SMH today http://tiny.cc/i08cuw). 

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:30): I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) it is 2 years since violence erupted in Syria, an estimated 70 000 people have been killed and more than 1 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, with an estimated 2.5 million people displaced inside Syria and an estimated 4 million people requiring humanitarian assistance,

(ii) Syria's hospitals have been damaged with a third no longer functioning and there is a shortage of medicine,

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

Estimates hearings 14 Feb 2013

Sentor Milne and Senator Rhiannon

Pg 39-44

CHAIR: Thank you. We are now moving to South and West Asia, and the Middle East. Senator Milne has questions on Sri Lanka.

Senator Lee Rhiannon questions Minister Carr and representatives of the federal Dept of Foreign Affairs about the latest Human Rights Watch report on Sri Lanka

Senate Estimates - Thursday 14 February 2013

FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE

Foreign Minister Bob Carr's decision to strengthen Australia's military and intelligence cooperation with the Sri Lankan government at a time when there are increasing reports of human rights abuses directly linked to the Rajapakse regime has been criticised by Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon.

"I urge Minister Carr to acquaint himself with reports out of Sri Lanka that on 12 December, 17 Tamil women were admitted to a hospital in Northern Sri Lanka. There is concern that these women had been sexually abused and brutalised by the Sri Lankan military", said Senator Rhiannon.

Senator Rhiannon: To move—

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) with deep concern the human rights situation in Iran, including the use of the death penalty, the intimidation and arbitrary arrest of human rights and political activists, and the treatment of minorities,

(ii) with particular concern the situation of Ms Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Iranian human rights lawyer who has campaigned for ‘freedom, social security, the rule of law and justice’, and who has been imprisoned since 4 September 2010,