Page 1445 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 11 May 1994
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South Africa
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.51), in reply: Madam Speaker, very briefly, I too rise on the occasion of the celebrations of our - - -
Ms Follett: Where is the champagne?
MR LAMONT: I was very pleased, Chief Minister, to have had a glass of champagne last evening, not only to celebrate the introduction of a magnificent budget by our colleagues in the Federal Labor Party but also because during the evening I was able to see Nelson Mandela invested as the first President of the true Republic of South Africa. It is appropriate for Mr De Domenico to reflect upon an important point in his life - his meeting with Vice-President Mbeki.
I also wish to reflect upon the 25 years of struggle in South Africa exhibited by many who were not present at the investiture last evening - the people of South Africa who were forced out of their country, many of whom I have been privileged to meet upon their migration to this country. Over the last 25 years they have been involved in struggle in this their new homeland to achieve independence for all South Africans within their former homeland of South Africa. These people from a wide range of political persuasions who stood in vigil outside the South African Embassy here in Canberra were at times brutalised in South Africa because they stood up for that which has now been recognised as an essential element of any member nation of the international community - a truly non-racial democracy.
On this occasion I certainly hope that we remember the people here in Australia who contributed significant amounts of their time and committed themselves, at times under very trying circumstances, to raising the consciousness of Australians about the plight of people in South Africa. From Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island, through Steve Biko's death to the investiture last evening has been one of the darkest periods in the history of the African continent.
While Mr De Domenico feels extremely privileged to have been able to meet the Vice-President on his recent visit to South Africa, I feel equally privileged to have been involved with and to know many people here in this chamber who supported the struggle in South Africa. Mr Berry for many years was an active supporter. His family were actively involved in the activities at the South African Embassy to raise people's consciousness about the plight of South Africa. I mention also the Chief Minister, my other colleagues here on the Labor side and Mr Moore and Ms Szuty. The activities of these people should be recognised on this occasion. I too congratulate South Africa on achieving a multiracial parliament that I hope will stand as testimony to what struggle can achieve in the world - in this case a struggle that has at the end of the day proved to be quite just.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.56 pm
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