Hon. Josh Frydenberg (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Australia)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS (FIRST DRAFT, INCOMPLETE)
The Bangkok Dialogue on the Rule of Law “Investing in the Rule of Law, Justice and Security for the Post-2015 Development Agenda”
"Freedom from slavery, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention and exile are not quaint notions that belong to a particular culture. They are universal human rights. Ideas that we must be prepared to defend and hold as well as enjoy. For as long as people who were held back by prejudice, or hamstrung by poverty or hammered down by tyranny, we are all diminished." He said that the rule of law “should be seen for what it truly is. An essential precondition for national prosperity. The cornerstone of national security. And a key part of the global solution to the global challenges of poverty, inequality and injustice.”
He said that although progress has been made on the Millennium Development Goals, more focused attention is needed in many areas such as child and maternal mortality, improving access to primary education, and promoting gender equality. “Development must be led by private investment, not simply rely on government aid. Because that is where the real difference can be made. Australia believes it is the responsibility of governments to create an environment where businesses can thrive. A global economy built on free and fair trade and broad market access."
He said that businesses need to be governed and protected by a system of rules and accountable, responsive and transparent institutions. “The greatest threat to this kind of prosperous and secure environment is instability and corruption. That is why the rule of law is so important. A strong system of rules gives businesses the confidence to invest in your country, and employ your citizens.”
He said Australia has worked hard to provide support for governments and the justice system in Asia, such as the establishment of village courts in PNG and the training of women village court magistrates. It has helped train more than 22,000 law and justice officials. In many ASEAN countries, Australians have worked alongside more than 600 police, judges and prosecutors to provide new expertise in the identification, management and prosecution of human trafficking cases. It has helped increase female participation in policing to improve recruitment and retention in the Pacific Police Development Programme. Australia has provided counseling services for female victims of violence and training for female judges and magistrates in historic numbers.