Page 734 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 May 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Thailand
MRS GRASSBY (3.46): I rise to speak on behalf of the community in Canberra whose birthplace was Thailand. The majority that I happen to know are now Australian citizens. They have been going through a terrible period, seeing in the media, on television particularly, a most shocking war being carried out in their country, all because people believe in democracy. Democracy is being denied to the people in Thailand. I was glad to hear this morning that the King had stepped in and was able to bring two people to their knees - I am not sure that I agree with that - and to realise that what they were doing was wrong and should cease.
I happen to know a lot of the Thai community in Canberra. They have been very worried and have found it very difficult to get news of their families. Some of them have seen on television their relations running in the streets. They have seen guns firing and have seen people fall to the ground. They do not know whether they have been hit or whether they fell to the ground to protect themselves. We are very lucky to live in a country where democracy does reign and where we have the right to have our say. The Thai community here have said how lucky they are, but they are not able to find out exactly the situation of their families.
Dear friends of mine who are Australian born citizens moved to Thailand to further business between Australia and Thailand and the last word I had from them was that they were locked in their houses without food. They were very fearful for their lives. They had taken three children there to go to school, but they have not been able to attend any schooling. As I say, the last I heard of them they had very little food in the house and were not able to move outside. The damage done to the city, of course, is rather terrible, but people are more important to me than the city. I think it is rather sad.
I am glad to see that at least the Federal Government and the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs have taken a stand. They have called the ambassador in, and I understand that we are doing something about this. May I say to the citizens of Canberra who were born in Thailand that my sympathy goes out to them. The sympathy of the Labor Party and, I am sure, of other members of the Assembly also goes out to them in their trauma at the moment.
Red Shield Appeal : Legislative Program
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (3.49), in reply: I would like to echo what Mr Stevenson said. Members will be proud, I think, to know that the ACT Government made a small contribution of $1,000 to the Red Shield Appeal today. I was also happy to see the veteran Salvation Army band from New South Wales playing here today. The youngest member was 61 years of age, and I think the oldest was 80-odd.
Mrs Carnell: Lou gave them more than that.
MR BERRY: You might have more money than the ACT Government. It was good to see that band out here. There were some octogenarians amongst them and they were still playing sweet music.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .