Labor backbencher Michael Danby will lead the six federal parliamentarians to Dharamsala in north India, where the Dalai Lama will host a reception for them on July 3. On July 6, they will join the public celebration of the Dalai Lama's 74th birthday.
The group comprises Liberal MP Peter Slipper, independent senator Nick Xenophon, Labor MP Melissa Parke, and Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Sarah Hanson-Young. It is understood the Chinese embassy in Canberra has already made representations to parliamentary officers to urge that the visit be reconsidered.
This first such group from the Australian parliament to visit Dharamsala will meet the Tibetan parliament and cabinet in exile, newly arrived refugees, people who were jailed in China, and Tibetan non-government organisations. Mr Danby, the chairman of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, said yesterday: "This is a significant step in Australia's support for a peaceful resolution of the Tibetan situation.
Information for this report was provided by the Australianand ANI.