Shane Ross (Independent)

I add my voice to those of Senators Corrigan, Bradford and others on the situation in Iran and congratulate the Department of Foreign Affairs. I echo the words of Senator Mooney - if the words of the Minister for Foreign Affairs had an effect last week, that is laudable and something we should encourage. The case involves a barbaric act, something on which we cannot be neutral. However, I hesitate in taking the view that we should only protest when these things happen in Iran. They happen elsewhere also.

Stoning in Iran is absolutely deplorable and disgusting. It would be commendable if we could unilaterally punch above our weight in making protests as a nation and not under the European umbrella. We might, however, extend it as we tend to be a little À la carte about our protests over executions. Will the House consider why we remain regularly silent when executions take place in the United States of America?