Page 1510 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .


encouraged us in the task for which we were sent there by the Government. Whether you agree or not is immaterial. The fact is that we were there on the direction of our Government, and a task had to be done. I know that Ms Follett - and this applies to me, as well - is seeking to make sure that those groups that I just mentioned are recognised, particularly the women civilians who served in that country, as did Mr Kaine's wife who was working in Saigon during that period. They provided a sterling service to us, and I think it is appropriate that that be recognised somewhere in the memorial. I have written to the chairman of that group to seek to have that particular aspect commemorated. I noticed that in the latest version of the Vietnam veterans' newsletter it is suggested that that will be included in the series of quotations in the handwriting of service men and women on one of the walls of the memorial.

So, on that basis, Mr Speaker, I would like to support the Bill. I note that there is a very good reason for it, both in timing and also for the tidying up, if you like, of the administrative arrangements. I look forward to participating in the Anzac Day activities this year.

DR KINLOCH (11.04): My own first personal involvement with gambling was in another army - not the Australian Army, but the United States Army - and, believe you me, the levels of gambling in that army were colossal. The games there, of course, were essentially "craps" and poker, not two-up; but I recognise that certain national traditions are important and I am going to call on the local branch of Gamblers Anonymous to hold a ceremonial two-up throwing in which no bets are placed.

MR MOORE (11.05): One of the concerns that I have about this Bill is that at no stage does it in any way clarify what coins are to be used, because there is a possibility, as pennies become less and less available, that somebody actually might run a two-up game without a penny, and to me that makes no sense at all. It could well be that people will get a bit too uppity over such a case, if I can coin a phrase.

Mr Speaker, I welcome the Bill in its present form. I just wanted to draw attention to that concern in case it is necessary for us to actually put a Bill through in another year to ensure that appropriate coins are used. I believe that anybody who has played two-up would realise that it simply would not be the same game if, for example, you used a $2 coin or another sort of coin.

I welcome the Government's foresight because, of course, I know quite a large number of people who, after the serious business of the services in the morning, take the second part of the tradition of Anzac Day which is to play two-up. Of course, often their families would stay to play up, and I think that it is quite appropriate that we should do


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .