Page 4765 - Week 15 - Thursday, 21 November 1991
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Yugoslavia : Timor
MR JENSEN (11.24): Mr Speaker, while I was upstairs I heard some suggestion that I may not be in the building, so I thought I had better come down and make sure that I was available.
Mr Wood: I hope you are finally getting those amendments done.
MR JENSEN: I was up there working very hard, I can assure you. Mr Wood will see the fruits of that tomorrow.
I rise to endorse the comments made by Mr Stefaniak in relation to the unfortunate matters that are going on in the Balkans at the moment. Those of us who live in a country such as Australia and have not had the problem of seeing their country invaded by people seeking to obtain power and to take over the territory of another nation are very fortunate indeed. Unfortunately, there are people across the waters who seek to obtain power and territory by force.
I do not accept that the attacks by elements of the Yugoslav Army, particularly the artillery and the armour, and the air force, on the villages and cities of Croatia are an appropriate use of force. It is also very clear that the Red Cross organisation is experiencing increasing frustration in moving into those areas where people are suffering privation and hardship and being able to assist. As Mr Stefaniak has already indicated, there is a need for United Nations intervention. If United Nations intervention had happened some time ago and those European nations had had a little more backbone in seeking to resolve some of the problems that were clearly evident with the breakdown of law and order - - -
Mr Berry: Did you mention Timor?
MR JENSEN: I will get onto that, Mr Berry. The Rally, as I think is well known, has consistently provided support and assistance to those groups of Croatians in Australia who have expressed concern about the problems that are going on at the moment in their homeland. Although the majority of them are Australian citizens, I think it is not unreasonable to expect them to express concern about the future of their loved ones and the country that I am sure many of them wish to go back and visit.
I think it is appropriate also at this time to consider the recent events in Timor. Many of us have friends and relations who served with some distinction on that island and who were served greatly and mightily by the Timorese people. It is a sad state of affairs when we see the sort of carnage, killing and oppression that is taking place in that country. It is long past the time when politicians in
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