Page 367 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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This is a sensitive issue. I hope that in future we do not have issues being raised in an insensitive fashion, as we have had in recent days, and that we work together, if that is what Ms Follett believes we should do on social justice issues, towards finding solutions to these difficult long-term problems.
Human Rights Violations in Vietnam
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (9.40): Mr Speaker, I had intended to speak about human rights in Vietnam, until my colleague Mr Duby stood up. At one minute past midnight tonight Amnesty International will be releasing a notable report on human rights abuses and violations in Vietnam. I have a copy of that embargoed report, which I propose to make available to the Assembly library tomorrow.
I think that this subject is of direct relevance to the Territory. We have a Vietnamese community which is still overcoming the traumas of the events in Vietnam in the last 30 years, and those people are still attempting family reunification and the like. I draw members' attention to an editorial in the Australian two days ago which contained an extraordinary attack on the immigration policies, procedures and approach of the Federal Minister for Immigration, Senator Ray.
I conclude by suggesting to members that they find a few minutes to look at this report tomorrow in the Assembly library. They will realise that the struggle for the achievement of human rights is not finished. It is very much alive in our region, and it touches our citizens - Canberra residents - and we should be involved in it. I believe that it is right and proper in this Assembly for us also, particularly during a caretaker period of government, to be conscious of these wider concerns and to spread the news and the knowledge that we need to support our citizens in their family interests.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 9.43 pm
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