Page 1515 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991
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MR BERRY: Yes, I am a law-abiding citizen, in contrast to Mr Duby.
Anzac Day, of course, is a very special day for Australians. It is celebrated by our returned servicemen, and many other people who have not been part of the military, in a special way and they, with a lot of nostalgia, do the things and remember the things that occurred in wars gone past. Peacemakers celebrate Anzac in a different way, remembering all of those things that are bad about war, as well as those things that are good amongst comrades drawn together as a result of wars.
What I find most amusing about this Government is that it makes such a fuss. The number of speakers that we have had today on this issue has been absolutely amazing. But what about a bit of activity from this Government on socially advantageous legislation - something that deals with the problems in society. Where was Mr Duby yesterday when his colleague Mr Collaery was avoiding dealing with the difficulty of drunkenness in the streets? He was not here. But he was able to jump up today to talk about the issue of two-up.
Mr Collaery, of course, will remember that yesterday he refused to pass legislation or deal with legislation to take inebriates in our streets into care and detention. One of the things that, of course, occur on Anzac Day is the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol is part of the Australian society and, of course, it is socially acceptable. When the Labor Party moves to provide socially advantageous legislation, to deal with a social problem, we have a Minister over here who rises quickly to block that sort of legislation. Yet today we see a huge number of members on the government benches rising to talk about a trivial matter - a trivial piece of legislation, though most appropriate. It is most appropriate because it is, as my colleague Mr Connolly said, more appropriate to make practices legal than it is to ignore them. But what demonstrates the gross hypocrisy of this Government is the attention that it gives to this sort of legislation, when it ignores and fails to bring forward socially advantageous legislation. That is the cross that you have to bear, Mr Collaery.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (11.22): Mr Speaker, I simply cannot believe that in a debate of this nature I have heard what I just heard from this man. It is unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable, and a very large percentage of the ACT community out there is going to be greatly interested that Mr Berry believes that Anzac Day and the things that are associated with it are trivial.
Mr Connolly: On a point of order: That is not what he said. He, in fact, acknowledged the importance of Anzac Day to the community. He said that your legislation is trivial and that you are trying to make cheap points out of Anzac Day. It is appalling.
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