Even with my highest hopes, when I became Foreign Minister I would not have imagined in little more than two years I would be here with Sean, at his book launch.
One of the very first tasks on my desk when I first became Foreign Minister was to get Sean out of prison in Myanmar.
It was perfectly clear how difficult this would be. We all know how brutal and oppressive the regime in Myanmar is.
We know the escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
We are all appalled by the reports of widespread human rights abuses and atrocities.
According to a recent report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar, at least 5,350 civilians have been killed.
And half of the population is living below the poverty line, primarily due to the military violence since the 2021 coup.
And of course Sean had spent years working to improve the lives of the people of Myanmar.
Working as an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, at the invitation of the elected government of the day, to serve the people of Myanmar, and help them realise their hopes for their country.
His work reinforcing the catastrophic failure of the junta.
And so there was not a lot of cause for optimism about Sean’s release.
Sean’s return was an extraordinary moment of relief for all of his family, friends and supporters, as well as the Australian Government, our regional partners and ASEAN members. Each of whom played important roles in securing Sean’s release.
The multifaceted nature of the work behind Sean’s release was one factor in my decision to ask my department to review its approach to supporting Australians detained in complex circumstances overseas.
That review included consulting with partners, stakeholders, and former detainees to ensure our methods are fit for purpose.
We have deeply appreciated our engagement with Sean as part of these efforts.
We are now better equipped to manage these complex and often highly distressing cases, which we handle on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safety and protection of the individual.
We don’t ever want to jeopardise the welfare or safety of an Australian overseas.
We also recognise that a level of public understanding and in some cases, public pressure, can contribute to better outcomes.
In my position, I have to make a judgment about the best way to balance these options, always with their welfare front of mind.
Always considering the best way to deploy the full range of resources at Australia’s disposal when pushing to secure their release, and to support families back home.
And always seeking ways to refine and improve on this work.
I look to the Senate’s Inquiry into the wrongful detention of Australian citizens overseas to provide suggestions that are both constructive and principled.
I note we are also joined tonight by Cheng Lei and Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who went through their own terrible experiences.
And while there are certainly aspects in common, the approach in each case is different, uniquely tailored to the circumstances and the country in which they were detained.
Sean, we are so grateful to have you back in the country and with us tonight, and of course to see you resume your work as a world-leading expert on Myanmar’s economy.
Which brings me to this important book.
‘Best Laid Plans’ documents Sean’s work in Myanmar, and his efforts to help reform Myanmar’s economy in that brief period of democracy between 2015 and 2021.
It illustrates the sheer scale and ambition of Sean’s work with so many dedicated reformers in Myanmar.
And it reinforces the tragedy of the country’s trajectory since the military coup in 2021.
That coup was the latest setback for Myanmar and its people, who had seen their hopes for their country supressed yet again, following attempts before 1962 and again in 1988 to forge a more democratic and inclusive future.
The regime’s actions in 2021 reversed years of political, economic and development gains.
It has created the largest and most complex crisis in the Indo-Pacific; with humanitarian, economic, political and security dimensions.
And it has caused enormous suffering for the people of Myanmar.
The UN estimates approximately a third of the population – some 18.6 million people – are in need of humanitarian assistance and more than 3.4 million are internally displaced.
Today, I announce Australia will provide a further $9 million through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, to support communities and conflict affected populations in Myanmar.
This will aid the delivery of life-saving food, water and shelter, as well as essential protection, education and health services for those most in need, including women, girls and people with disabilities.
In his book, Sean also reflects on the atrocities in Rakhine state, which precipitated so much of the continuing violence against and the ongoing targeting of Rohingyas who live there, by the regime and other actors.
The plight of the Rohingya people deserves greater focus in our region – which is why I visited Cox’s Bazar in May this year to talk with community leaders and humanitarian workers who have experienced the consequences of the regime’s actions.
The Rohingya crisis is Australia’s largest humanitarian response.
With my announcement today, successive governments–both Labor and Coalition–will have contributed some $880 million in assistance for Rohingya, their host communities in Bangladesh and people across Myanmar since 2017.
We support the rights of Rohingyas to live safely as citizens in Myanmar.
We want to see conditions put in place that would allow Rohingyas to return in a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable way.
And until such time as a safe and dignified return is possible, Australia will continue to support displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
The Australian people are decent and want to help.
We are generous with our humanitarian aid – but it is not a long-term answer.
Reform is desperately needed to drive growth.
As Sean shows us in this book, Myanmar’s economy continues to face a range of constraints.
The World Bank forecasts GDP growth of one per cent in 2024-25 financial year, a revision from 2023 projection of 2 percent growth.
Businesses face operational difficulties as a result of foreign currency, labour and electricity shortages and rapidly rising prices.
And conflict has enabled illicit economic activities to thrive, including narcotics production, scam centres and human trafficking.
The regime is losing ground, but there is no sign its position is softening.
Despite territorial losses and a bleak economic outlook, the regime has not changed its approach.
And opposition groups are divided.
As a result, Myanmar is at risk of further fragmentation.
The current trajectory is not sustainable for the regime or for the region.
We want the regime to take a different path–to fulfil its commitment under ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus, and engage meaningfully and positively with ASEAN representatives.
There must be much more safe access for humanitarian assistance across the country, so that all those who are in need can receive support.
There must be an end to the violence, including the targeting of civilians.
The regime’s violent repression of its people is why the Albanese Government has applied sanctions on key members of the regime responsible for atrocities, as well as on commercial entities with direct links to the Myanmar military regime and why we will continue to keep our targeted sanctions towards Myanmar under review.
But sanctions can only achieve so much.
Genuine, inclusive dialogue is vital to any political resolution – as out of reach as that seems now.
Ultimately, a political resolution in Myanmar will require dialogue between all the actors, including the regime, and a genuine willingness for a legitimate return to civilian-led democratic government.
I have said before that we can’t only deal with those who share our views if we are to effect change.
That was our approach in engaging with the Myanmar regime to secure Sean’s release.
Which is why in 2022, ahead of Sean’s release, I spoke twice directly with the regime’s then-Foreign Minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin.
Not just to argue for a positive outcome for Sean, but so I could directly register Australia’s objections to the regime’s actions.
I also met earlier this year with the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Unity Government’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Madam Zin Mar Aung.
Peace requires dialogue, which is why Australia will continue to engage with and listen to the many groups and voices working for democracy in Myanmar, including but not limited to the NUG. And why we will continue to support inclusive dialogues that lay the groundwork for future political transitions.
Australia stands ready to work with ASEAN and other partners to find pathways that may encourage dialogue between all players, to lend our voice to messages to the regime to take a different path, and to bring to the table any support that will help make a difference.
We are also supporting efforts to strengthen civil society and build resilience, along with local-level governance initiatives for communities in areas outside regime control.
We do all this because as Sean so powerfully reminds us, the people of Myanmar have not lost hope for their country – so we must not lose hope in them.
We must remain resolute in our support for the people of Myanmar. They have demonstrated their courage and commitment to democracy in decades’ long struggles, with determined resilience in the face of the most horrific adversity.
Tonight we celebrate not just Sean’s contribution, but all those in Myanmar who continue to work for change.
We stand with them, and share their ambitions for a better future.
Sean, congratulations on this achievement.
We admire your dedication and ongoing commitment to the people of Myanmar.
It is my pleasure to officially launch your book.
