The Federal Government has taken a lead internationally by agreeing to "investigate possible options for the establishment of a United Nations commission of inquiry" into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

"The Australian Greens have been calling on the Government to take this step for more than a year, and this is extremely welcome news," Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

"This is the first step towards the UN conducting a full investigation into the facts and evidence relevant to the crimes of this vicious military regime and its corrupt judiciary - the lethal force against civilians, the torture, detention, forced labour, persecution and rape. Australia has been holding back from supporting this initiative, but its change of position overnight is absolutely to be welcomed."

"The Greens will now be following up the precise actions taken by the Australian Government in pursuit of these objectives," Senator Ludlam said.

A senate motion welcoming the Government's initiative passed with unanimous support this afternoon.

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UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: "The progress report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana (A/HRC/13/48) notes that a pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights has been in place for many years. Given the extent and persistence of the problem, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights violations are the result of a State policy, originating from decisions by authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels. The Government needs to take prompt and effective measures to investigate these facts." http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9909&LangID=E