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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3056 ..

the sporting, trade and cultural sanctions that were in place for nearly three decades. It took time, Mr Speaker, but it eventually worked. Recently we saw Mr Mandella in town, and what a tremendous testament he is to perseverance, Mr Speaker. I accept that the situation in China is different from that of South Africa in the 1960s. The Chinese are not persecuting people of another colour. They are doing it to themselves and their neighbours. One of the major differences I can see today is that we can profit commercially by becoming mates with Beijing, while there was nothing in it for us with Johannesburg or Cape Town back in the 1970s and 1980s.

To Labor's discredit and embarrassment, I trust the ACT movement would know the right response to this motion today. On numerous occasions the Trades and Labour Council have protested outside the Chinese Embassy on the issue of human rights. I cannot specifically recall, but I am sure the union stalwarts of the ALP like Mr Berry probably joined them.

To the ALP's shame today, I would remind Mr Stanhope, the former president of the ACT Civil Liberties Council, and Mr Berry, a former union official, that the TLC formally passed a motion last night opposing a sister city relationship with Beijing. How can Labor now say that they stand up for the workers? How can they say they have any credibility when they say they stand for freedom of association, freedom of speech, the rights of the child, civil liberties, or other basic human rights? Mr Speaker, they have no credibility left on these matters after this vote today.

I will be joining with my colleagues on the crossbench, Mr Kaine and Ms Tucker, and voting accordingly. I thank members for their patience.

MR BERRY (8.28): Mr Speaker, I was outside listening to Mr Osborne's contribution to this debate. I will not take long because it will not take long to expose this man. Mr Speaker, this is the man who voted for this Chief Minister who has perpetrated this sistership relationship. This is the man also who was able to gain special considerations for himself. He is able to engage the government in things of his choice. For example, he was able to make sure that the government was influenced by his position on abortion. He was able to convince the government to discriminate in favour of police. He was able to ensure that the government changed its views on poor drug users.

Mr Osborne is capable of many things, but he is not capable of getting them to change their mind on this. This is a sham.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (8.29), in reply: Mr Speaker, I think it has been a very unfortunate debate. I do not believe there is anybody in this place who would support the human rights abuse that happens in China, or for that matter the human rights abuse that happens here in Australia to our indigenous community, or for that matter the human rights problems that occur in many parts of the world.

Mr Speaker, it is very interesting to me to hear comments from the Labor Party with regard to process in this issue. Members will be aware that I invited various members, the Leader of the Opposition and others, to accompany us to China and Japan in 1998 on the basis of forming a closer relationship with Beijing. Also, I tabled an official report from that trip in December 1998 which showed the development of that relationship. We have had a number of signing ceremonies and other things such as media events.

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