SENATOR PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEMBER FOR GORTON

Labor calls on the Morrison Government to review Australia’s defence cooperation program with Myanmar in light of the Myanmar military’s seizure of power.

Australia should work with allied and aligned countries to send a clear signal to Myanmar’s military leaders that their actions are a direct attack on Myanmar’s democratic transition and stability.

The Australian Government must stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and ensure the bilateral relationship won’t return to business as usual until democracy is restored and political prisoners are released.

The Australian Government has maintained a defence cooperation program with Myanmar with the stated objective ‘to talk to them about how a professional military behaves’.

Following yesterday’s events, the Government needs to explain whether this cooperation is consistent with Australia’s strategic interests, review other areas of bilateral cooperation and consider additional targeted sanctions as appropriate.

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.