Media release
The Foreign Death Penalty Offences (Preventing Information Disclosure) Bill 2015
Federal leader of the Palmer United Party and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, has introduced a private member’s bill to help prevent the future executions of Australian citizens in foreign countries.
Co-sponsored by independent Federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, the bill follows the tragic execution of Bali Nine pair Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, in Indonesia.
The Foreign Death Penalty Offences (Preventing Information Disclosure) Bill 2015 proposed by Mr Palmer is a Bill for an Act to prevent the disclosure of information by public officials in circumstances that may lead to the imposition of the death penalty in foreign countries.
Mr Palmer is urging Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, to allow a conscience vote on the matter.
Mr Palmer said the member’s bill addresses the issues of Australian authorities cooperating with international law enforcement agencies when it meant the death penalty could be imposed on Australian citizens overseas.
“If the Australian Federal Police are aware of Australians involved in a capital punishment crime committed in a foreign country, then they should not be allowed to provide information which could expedite the death penalty,’’ Mr Palmer said.
“In the very saddening case of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, if these two Australian citizens were arrested on their return to Australia, their lives would be saved.
“There needs to be an urgent review of policies that could expose Australians to the death penalty. The death penalty is barbaric and solves nothing.”
“This private member’s bill to restrict co-operation between Australian and international authorities when the outcome involves capital punishment offences for our citizens,’’ Mr Palmer said.
The Foreign Death Penalty Offences (Preventing Information Disclosure) Bill 2015
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