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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3044 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

Government-to-government arrangements are the sorts of arrangements that we rely on our federal government to provide and extend. In that regard, I did write to the foreign minister, Alexander Downer, and I asked him what were his government's attitudes to this sort of arrangement. He said, "Well, it's got nothing to do with us. This is an arrangement between communities; this is an arrangement between peoples. It is not an arrangement between governments." I think there is some force in the argument that through engagement one can make advance.

Showing my age, I remember distinctly Gough Whitlam's trip to Beijing in 1972. Do you remember how Gough Whitlam was howled down, derided, challenged and ridiculed for daring to reopen diplomatic relations with China in 1972? Can you remember it? He was the first Western leader. Do you remember how he was derided?

Mr Kaine: The Leader of the Opposition is going to vote for this motion.

Mr Osborne: Is he? Have you worked that out after-

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope has the floor.

MR STANHOPE: He was derided and castigated because he dared, as the first Western leader, to seek to open the doors to China. He went there. Who here does not think that China, as a result of that first step, has not improved? It has, quite significantly. Things have changed dramatically since China opened up.

Mr Kaine: You prove it.

MR STANHOPE: There is no doubt about that.

Mr Kaine: It is no good saying it; prove it. Put the evidence on the table.

MR STANHOPE: It is a shining example. I think it was one of those significant moments in history. His visit there preceded a visit, I think, by Richard Nixon by one week. It was from then that China did open up to the rest of the world. It is a significant argument that can be made. We can disagree about it, but I am one of those who are more inclined to believe that progress will be made through some sort of engagement. There are opportunities through these sorts of arrangements to have a real influence. The fact that China has opened to the world shows that it has worked. It does work around the world. There is a prospect for us to play a role, if we so desire.

I was quite concerned, being a usual supporter of Ms Tucker, to hear her condescending and derisive dismissal of any prospect of Rosemary Follett, the ACT Discrimination Commissioner, having any role to play in relations between Canberra and Beijing in the sister city relationship. I think there is a significant role in a relationship between this community and that community for the ACT Discrimination Commissioner. Our discrimination mechanisms and reporting requirements could be put at the forefront of discussions with the people of Beijing; not with the government of China but with the people of Beijing, those who actually run that city just as our people run our city.

Ms Tucker: She is going to tell them what their rights are and then they will get put in jail for it.

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