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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1040 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

and information which is partly correct and partly not correct. I do not think, Mr Speaker, that the truth of Pauline Hanson's phenomenon is explained by books like this. I think very few people will read this book. It is the fact that she draws upon fears within the Australian community, which it is our duty as members of this Assembly and the duty of parliamentarians collectively to undermine through solid argument.

Mr Speaker, I appreciate and enjoy living in a tolerant, multicultural society because I can see the benefits that have flowed to our society from the infusion of people of many races in that society. We need to explain to those people who do not understand those benefits what those benefits are and to argue for their acceptance and their promotion in the future. I believe that we need to make a positive step to do that.

Mr Speaker, I think we need to accept that the sorts of fears which have been raised by Pauline Hanson are not the fears merely of people whom you might describe as being on the extreme Right of our nation. Bear in mind that Pauline Hanson represents the electorate of Oxley, an electorate which for, as far as I am aware, the entire period since Federation has returned Labor members of parliament. It was the one seat the Labor Party held in Queensland after the 1975 election. (Extension of time granted) The point is that the people who have elected Pauline Hanson are solid working-class people living around the city of Ipswich.

Mr Whitecross: And Liberal Party voters.

MR HUMPHRIES: Undoubtedly, that is true. Mr Speaker, let me answer Mr Whitecross's comment. Yes, it is true that a lot of people who would normally vote for the Liberal Party in Oxley voted for Pauline Hanson. That is undoubtedly true, but - - -

Mr Whitecross: Most.

MR HUMPHRIES: Probably that is true as well. I do not know, frankly, and I do not see how you can know either.

Ms McRae: Because he looked at the numbers. That is why.

MR HUMPHRIES: There are no figures on that. You cannot work out what - - -

Ms McRae: There are. The two-party preferred and - - -

MR HUMPHRIES: No, there are not.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: There was no Liberal candidate at that election, Ms McRae.

Mr Whitecross: There was. It was Pauline Hanson.

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