Don Greenlees – The Federal Government is facing a political contest over human rights after a decision by the ALP to call for the first time for a "right of self-determination" for East Timor in its new foreign affairs policy.
Pushing human rights to the forefront of the new policy, Labor will test relations with Indonesia by declaring "no lasting solution" can be found to the East Timor conflict without negotiations leading to an act of self-determination.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Laurie Brereton has underlined the firmer position on East Timor by backing calls by South African President Nelson Mandela for Jakarta to release East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao from prison as a show of good faith.
The policy document, the first of Labor's policies to be publicly disclosed, states human rights should be an "integral part" of Australia's engagement with Indonesia.
The document was steered through the ALP's 20-member national security and trade policy committee by Mr Brereton in late August and will be taken to the party's national conference.
"Australia should maintain contact with all elements of the political process in Indonesia, including in such dialogue clear expression of the Australian people's fundamental concern with human rights and democratic freedoms," the policy says.
"Labor will lend every encouragement to efforts to peacefully resolve the East Timor conflict. It is Labor's considered view that no lasting solution to the conflict in East Timor is likely in the absence of a process of negotiation through which the people of East Timor can exercise their right of self-determination."
In government, Labor stopped short of a call for an act of self-determination. But it supported UN moves to consider self-determination in negotiation with the parties. Labor maintained this position was not inconsistent with recognition of Indonesian sovereignty.
Speaking to The Weekend Australian, Mr Brereton said Australia should be "open and forthright" in stating its view on how best to resolve the East Timor conflict in contrast to the "behind closed doors" approach of the Government when addressing human rights concerns in Asia.
"It's a question for Indonesia at the end of the day but I don't think we should be afraid to state our view about what we believe is necessary to see the matter resolved," he said.
Asked whether he would support Mr Mandela's bid to have Gusmao released, Mr Brereton said: "I think it would be a positive step. But it is a matter for Indonesia. I certainly welcome Mandela's effort."
Mr Brereton's comments reflect a decision by Labor to push human rights to the forefront of the political battle with the Federal Government over the direction of foreign policy.
The policy contains an extensive statement on human rights, promising a "consistent, coherent and firm" stance in defence of the full range of human rights and rejects "attempts to portray this concern as interference in the internal affairs of other States".
It backs the use of political and economic sanctions in extreme cases and also promises greater scrutiny of defence exports to ensure Australia doesn't indirectly contribute to "major suppression or violation of human rights".
Beyond human rights, the policy maintains a largely bipartisan approach to foreign affairs. It stresses the priority on engagement with Asia but expounds on only two regional relationships: China and Indonesia.
It differs from the Government's foreign policy White Paper by challenging the requirement that a "national interest" test be applied to all foreign policy.