Page 2735 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 12 August 2015
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the Chinese people—Chinese business men and women, Chinese labourers, ordinary Chinese citizens, ordinary people—in an attempt to move the focus off them and away from their deals which we have now heard so much about.
It is interesting when you reflect on what some great people have said about prejudice and xenophobia. Albert Einstein said:
What a sad era when it is easier to smash an atom than a prejudice.
It is time that this Assembly stood up, smashed that prejudice and disavowed the words and the campaign of the CFMEU. Anyone who votes against this motion—it is very hard to see what you would object to in condemning the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union for their recent anti-Chinese media campaign—anyone who cannot stand up and vote for this motion, really must have a good look at themselves and what they truly believe. We get many speeches and lectures from those opposite about what a great place it is as a multicultural capital and how we should be open to those from different countries. Here is your opportunity to vote and say to the CFMEU, “No more.”
George Gordon Byron, better known as Lord Byron, said:
Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.
The CFMEU have shown that because they would not reason, they are bigots. And in relation to those who cannot, they refuse to and therefore they are foolish. The question is: are those opposite slaves to their union mates in the CFMEU and will they dare say, “No. Enough is enough. This must stop.”?
How important is China to the ACT? The Chief Minister laid it pretty much on the line. He said on page 4 of his speech:
It is probably not widely realised that around 2 per cent of Canberra’s population was born in China—
two per cent of our Canberrans—
and that Mandarin is the most commonly spoken language in Canberra after English.
Further to this, he said:
Further to this, Chinese students form the largest international student group at Canberra campuses. There are around 5,500 Chinese students enrolled in our education system.
In addition, he said:
In addition, and to further reinforce the significance of China to the ACT economy, the ACT regularly receives more visitation from Chinese tourists than from any other country.
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