Page 204 - Week 01 - Thursday, 9 April 1992
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I want to touch on another matter altogether. Mr Berry invited us the other day, I think a little frivolously, to see whether we had any international issues to raise during the adjournment debate. I do not have an international issue to raise, but I raise a local issue and make an international reflection upon it.
There was, of course, earlier this week the very serious incident at the Iranian Embassy in Canberra, when a number of people broke through the entrance to the embassy, stormed the embassy building and assaulted, allegedly, a number of officials inside that building. There has been a very severe and swift reaction to that. Many comments have been made by a number of people, nationally and internationally, about the security of embassies and so on. I, of course, endorse those comments. It is quite unacceptable that people who serve overseas in foreign missions for their country should be subject to any kind of threat to their security. It is something of a blot on our reputation as a member of the international community that we have had this incident happen in the ACT.
Madam Speaker, I cannot help reflecting on the fact that, if any country in the world was less qualified to complain about a breach of security at its mission, it would have to be Iran. I cannot let pass the reflection that it was only 10 or so years ago that in Teheran the American Embassy was stormed by Iranian students. Members of that mission were held hostage for 444 days, originally by students but subsequently by the Iranian Government itself.
I heard a demonstration earlier this week describe the storming of an embassy as terrorism. I concur with that view and ask members to reflect on what that says about the Government of Iran that condoned the action I have just described. I do not, for one instant, say that action of that kind is excusable - of course, it is not - but we ought to reflect on the fact that sometimes these things come back to haunt us. In this case I think the Iranian Government might be haunted by a few ghosts of its own.
Ms Lyn Lane : SBS News
MRS GRASSBY (4.57): I also would like to wish Lyn Lane the very best. Not only has she served this Assembly and the past Assembly extremely well and been a professional public servant; she has also been a good friend to us all. It has always been very nice to be able to go and ask Lyn a question, because you have always got the answer in the politest and nicest way. I wish her all the very best. I know that she is thinking of a trip overseas, and I hope that she has a great time and enjoys it.
I rise this afternoon to speak on the attack that has been made on the SBS news crew who covered the assault at the Iranian Embassy on Monday. Although I do not always see eye to eye with the media, their coverage of that event this week was a brave act on their part. The criticism is unwarranted. I cannot agree that journalists are required to place their lives in danger to cover a story for public interest. However, in this case they were prepared to do that because they thought it was important.
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