Page 650 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 4 July 1989
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religion, freedom of assembly - I honour that word "assembly" - freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, the end of the ancien regime, the beginning of the end of government by aristocrats, the beginning of republicanism.
It was intriguing to be celebrating that revolution this evening, with many colleagues here, on this day, on which I am proud to be wearing the tie of the Australian-American Association, the day of another revolution - another republican revolution, another great event in the history of mankind - a revolution regarded, even by Marxists, as one of the many milestones of liberation in world history. In teaching the subject of American revolutionary history over many years I was always anxious for the students to read Marx and Lenin on the subject.
It was a revolution which, of course, had its effect on that subsequent revolution across the other side of the Atlantic - one thinks of the name of Lafayette - which breached the two continents. It was the emergence, then, of two great republics committed to the rule of citizens by citizens for citizens - one a brand new nation in the making; the other an ancient nation and culture in a new flowering of national life. So 4 July and 14 July today, for me, came strangely together.
Here we are on this 4 July, on this preliminary celebration of the events of le quatorze juillet, debating our own freedoms and rights, our own form of government, and our right to change that form of government. I think for the fifth time, I especially note the remarks of citizen Maher about our rights - not the rights of the Federal Government but our rights. I do thank citizen Maher for her comments. I therefore welcome citizen Duby's - - -
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Whalan: I require that the question be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
SELF-GOVERNMENT - SELECT COMMITTEE
Debate resumed.
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