Page 1509 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991
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to rush through on a fairly trifling matter; yet great issues of concern, like the discrimination legislation and landlord and tenant law reform, still wait on the back burner for government action.
MR JENSEN (10.59): I propose to speak very briefly on this matter this morning. As one who has spent some time in the services and one whose father, I am sure, participated in this noble art and game of two-up during his service - - -
Mr Berry: Did you bite your bullets last night, too, Norm?
MR JENSEN: I did not think I did too badly last night, actually, Wayne. However, it is back to the matter in hand. Of course, it is quite ironic that my colleague Mr Collaery is the one responsible for introducing this Bill into the house. Mr Collaery is, as members already know, a legatee whose father paid the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War. So, I think it is appropriate that it is Mr Collaery who is introducing this Bill into the house this week and is in charge of its passage.
Mr Connolly, one of the reasons why it is being passed this week is that, as you well know, Anzac Day is next week, and I trust that I will see you somewhere at the parade, or at least participating in the memorial service. This year I propose to join my colleagues in the parade as a participant, as opposed to sitting on the side benches.
However, what we have to remember in relation to this Bill is that what it does very importantly is that it regularises the long tradition that has taken place in the ACT. Mr Connolly quite rightly says that no police officer is going to take action in this particular case. But what it does do, in fact, is ensure that any profits made from this game are put towards the sorts of worthy causes that have been identified - causes like Legacy and other service related community organisations which have assisted the service men and women of our country once they have returned to Australia.
I am also sure, Mr Connolly, that next year in the first week in October thousands of Vietnam veterans will be gathering in this town to participate, if you like, in the final stage of the homecoming of the Vietnam veterans to Australia. We all know that it took some time - in excess of almost 20 years - before those of us who came home on late night flights were finally acknowledged by the people of Australia in the welcome home march. The final stage of that will take place when the memorial is dedicated next year. I look forward to that, and I will be participating in that with my colleagues.
It will give the people of Canberra an opportunity to pay tribute to those men and women of the services who served in Vietnam. Of course, we must not forget that it was not just the service men and women, but also people from the Red Cross and the entertainers who came to that country and
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