Page 3201 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011
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What is also clear is that, within a democratic society, there should also be room for dissent. I think that is something that is accepted across the spectrum of this chamber. A modern, vibrant democracy is more than capable of incorporating dissent. In fact, I think that, again, most of us would hold the view that a level of dissent is healthy to ensure that our society is striving to be the best it can. Dissent can drive accountability, it can drive improvement and it can prevent injustice.
The underlying issue in today’s motion is disagreement about what forms of dissent are considered legitimate and, specifically, what views members of this place might hold on how that dissent might be expressed.
Specifically, Mr Seselja’s motion raises the question of civil disobedience and whether peaceful, and perhaps even unlawful, protest and the rule of law can stand side by side. The Greens believe that they can.
Opposition members interjecting—
Throughout history, many important political players have participated in civil disobedience. Civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King is one of the most well known. Locally, many of those who fought against the dam on the Franklin River—
Ms Bresnan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, we have already had a discussion today about speeches being heard in silence. Mr Seselja’s was, Mr Corbell’s was, and I ask that Ms Hunter’s speech also be heard in silence.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, the point of order is upheld.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Throughout history, many important political players have participated in civil disobedience. Civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King is one of the most well known. Locally, many of those who fought against the dam on the Franklin River were arrested, but history and the nation now judge them as heroes. Right across the union movement, environment movement, the civil and women’s rights movements, civil disobedience has featured. There are also contemporary examples where peaceful disobedience might come into play. For example, over the weekend debate emerged about whether farmers should be able to lock coal seam gas companies out of their land, in spite of the legal right to undertake exploration. I believe that Mr Abbott made some statements on this issue.
Figures on the conservative side of politics have accepted the legitimacy of civil disobedience. Former environment minister Senator Ian Campbell joined the board of Sea Shepherd, an organisation well known for controversial protests against Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean. During the last term of the Assembly, and something which is even closer to home, Liberal MLA Steve Pratt was a regular. Attacking what he called the scourge of graffiti, Pratt took direct action and painted over what was in fact a legal artwork. Later, in the debate over the gas fired data centre at Macarthur, Pratt was quoted as saying, “If push comes to shove, I will chain myself to a bulldozer to stop this going ahead.” I have been unable to find any comments from the party leader, Zed Seselja, condemning either of these actions.
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