Page 3689 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 October 1990
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the dismantling of the racist apartheid system and equality of social, economic and political opportunities for all South Africans.
Mr Speaker, this visit causes us to recall the banning of political groups, constraints on free trade unions, the muzzling of the press and the arrest and detention of people whose only crime was their wish for the freedom of their people. The visit recalls also the acts of state terror by the South African authorities at Sharpeville in 1960 and at Soweto in 1976.
The fact that Mr Mandela is now able to visit Australia and that some of the worst excesses of apartheid have gone does not mean that the system itself has been dismantled. It is very clear that Mr Mandela and others will have to continue their struggle to remove the systematic inequalities of the apartheid system. Even after South Africa becomes a free, democratic and non-racial nation, it will be many years before the economic inequalities are overcome.
Mr Speaker, Mr Mandela's visit to Australia follows almost 20 years of Australian government opposition to apartheid. There has been opposition by all major political groups. It is a matter of record that the Whitlam, Fraser and Hawke governments have all adopted strong positions on this issue. In this context, I believe it is appropriate that the ACT join with the many other countries, cities and groups around the world which have demonstrated their respect and admiration for Mr Nelson Mandela.
The Chief Minister has said that there is no tradition of offering the freedom of the city of Canberra to an individual. I do not see that the fairly limited precedent in that area should necessarily prevent such a decision on this occasion. However, given the military connotations of the ceremony and its perhaps rather feudal overtones, I am not inclined to criticise the Chief Minister's decision in this matter. I do not pretend to be an expert on protocol, and the last thing that I want to do is to be divisive on this issue. My concern is that the ACT marks the visit of this exceptional world leader in an appropriate way and in both symbolic and practical manners.
Given that the Government considers that the freedom of the city is inappropriate and, as I said, I am not inclined to argue with that, I think the Assembly should consider an alternative. In my motion I have suggested the presentation to Mr Mandela of a symbolic key to the city.
Mr Speaker, I had imagined that such a presentation could take place at the reception in the Assembly next Tuesday, of which you have advised us. I have been advised this morning that there is some doubt that that reception will be able to be arranged because of Mr Mandela's schedule for that day. I wonder whether it would be possible for such a presentation to be made as Mr Mandela arrives at the airport or at some other appropriate time during his
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