HOBART, March 30 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard was refusing to confront Chinese leaders over human rights abuses in Tibet because he feared criticism over Australia's treatment of Aborigines, Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown said today. Senator Brown accused Mr Howard of putting money before human rights during his four-day trip the China.

"It's a case of the prime minister putting the dollars first," Senator Brown said.

"He won't raise human rights because he's scared Australia's record on Aborigines will be thrown back in his face. "It's a fair point to make and it's a debate we have to engage in."

He said "I think the majority of Australians would want him to raise the human rights abuses in Tibet." Senator Brown said Mr Howard was wrong to ignore human rights abuses in the region. "There are hundreds of thousands of people being mistreated in the region and if he pretends that's not happening he's taking a step in the wrong direction," he said.

Mr Howard is concentrating on trade during his Chinese trip. He has said he would take a "sensible" approach to human rights issues and would not resort to "hectoring or moralising".