Page 2711 - Week 09 - Thursday, 8 August 2013
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I brought on this motion today because I believe this is actually a genuine issue. For Mr Hanson’s benefit, I actually had no contact with my federal colleagues before I decided to do this. Having attended the rallies in Canberra in the last few weeks, I actually believe that we have a serious problem here and I think it is appropriate that the ACT Assembly and the members in here have an opportunity to put a view on this. I am sorry that Ms Berry found it to be some sort of—what was the word she used?—long shot or something like that. Cheap shot was in fact the expression.
In my speech I very clearly said, and I quote what I said, because I still have the words on the table:
The ACT government has displayed these qualities by welcoming and supporting refugees and newly arrived people to our community.
I was openly acknowledging this community, and my very words are there in my motion. This community has been quite good.
Nonetheless, I have a considerable disagreement with the federal policy, and it is open to this place, as a community affected by federal government policy, to express our view. To be condemned for bringing that issue into this place is beyond extraordinary and reflects much more poorly on Mr Hanson when he describes it in that way than it reflects on me for raising the topic.
As it happens, I agree with the amendment put by Mr Corbell. I think that is a very substantial issue, and I think I could do best by simply echoing the comments that he made about the issues of not being able to access appropriate services and payments for those who do end up in Australia. I will, on that basis, be supporting the amendment that Mr Corbell has put forward. It is not the point that I raise. Nonetheless it is an important point. If that is the point that comes out of today’s discussion, then I think that is a positive thing. And that goes to the spirit in which I actually brought this discussion forward.
I am surprised at the level of venom that members have directed at me for bringing this topic forward. I think that reflects their own insecurities about this issue far more than the fact that I brought it into this chamber today. I brought in here a simple case, which is that I think the current policy put forward by the federal government, and largely echoed in various forms by the federal opposition, is wrong. I think it is inhumane and I think it is cruel.
I think it is appropriate that this Assembly, if it so chooses—and it is clearly not going to choose to do so—can communicate to federal parliamentarians our disquiet with that policy. We have done it on other issues. Mr Hanson got up and said we should not be debating federal issues in here. I reckon I can go upstairs and go through Hansard and find more than one occasion. I seem to recall a motion brought forward by Mr Seselja about Senator Brown, for example. And I suspect there are others. I just cannot bring them to mind off the top of my head. But it is quite appropriate for this place to express a view if it so wishes. Clearly it chooses not to. And that is for members in this place to reflect on themselves. So be it.
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