andMr. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the recommendation, recently made by the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Australian Federal Parliament, that a permanent, independent international organisation be established to inquire into abuses of psychiatry.
Written Answers. - Psychiatry Abuses.
33.
The Deputy is no doubt referring to the recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Australian Parliament in their report of November 1979 entitled "Human Rights in the Soviet Union". This recommendation was "that the Australian Government give consideration to the establishment of a permanent, independent, international organisation to inquire into the abuse of psychiatry for political purposes". The Australian Government have not yet stated their position on the matter. If the Australian Government were to propose the establishment of such an international organisation and to seek our support, the Government would then consider the matter and take a decision in due course.