Page 24 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 1991
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growing together in friendship. I condemn any attempt that might be made to ostracise, intimidate or persecute members of our multicultural society on the basis of their race, their ancestry or their religion. Not only is this totally offensive but it cheapens the fundamental principles that are at stake in this Gulf war.
It is my strong view, Mr Speaker, supported by my colleagues in government, that this legislature should unanimously support the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth Parliament in the difficult decision that they have made to participate with the international community in opposition to the belligerence and aggression of Saddam Hussein. Our best hope is that reason will yet prevail; that the devastation visited on the region so far, the loss of life and property, will not be permitted to escalate; that hostilities can cease through some negotiated outcome rather than one resulting from increased armed conflict. The world will be a better place if this can be achieved. Whatever the outcome, I would like to express my hope for a speedy and just resolution of the war, a hope that I am convinced will be shared by all members of the Assembly. I am sure that the thoughts of the members of this house and, indeed, of all Canberrans are with our Australian service men and women in the Gulf and I am confident that we all wish that they may soon be able to return safely home. I present the following paper:
War in the Persian Gulf - Ministerial statement, 12 February 1991.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (3.28): I would like to take advantage of the opportunity the Chief Minister has opened up to respond very briefly to his comments on the war in the Persian Gulf. At the outset I should say that I totally support what Mr Kaine has said in relation to our multicultural society in the ACT. It is something that we hold very dear in Australia; people are entitled to their views and are entitled to the full benefit of our democracy, no matter what their background or what their beliefs. That is a principle which ought to be upheld and one which we must be particularly conscious of at a time when Australia is engaged in war.
I know that within our community there are some groups of people who feel, by virtue of their background, that they are in some way being criticised or being ostracised at this time of war. I would hope that that is not the case, particularly in the ACT which has a reputation perhaps for greater tolerance than other States and other cities in Australia. So I take great pleasure in supporting what Mr Kaine has said about our own citizenry.
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