Page 3964 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 17 November 2015
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These are the latest in a series of attacks, including the bombing in Ankara, Turkey, where those who suffered were innocent people going about their daily lives or gathering to support peace in their country or their region.
One of our country’s, and I believe our city’s, greatest strengths is our harmonious, diverse, multicultural, multifaith community that celebrates people from all backgrounds and cultures. I am sure I speak for this Assembly this morning and for the Canberra community when I say that we will preserve and protect this vital character of our local community. We will continue to strive to ensure that we remain harmonious, diverse and multicultural.
The Paris, Beirut and Ankara attacks have devastated families. Our hearts and thoughts go out to those families. At this difficult time we are standing in solidarity with all of those affected by these horrific attacks.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition), by leave: I thank the Chief Minister for bringing this matter before the Assembly today. I speak on behalf of the Canberra Liberals as I offer our sympathy and support for the people of Paris and of France. Today we mourn those killed, we hope for those who were wounded, and we reach out to all those touched by these tragic events.
The horror that unfolded before us in Paris is almost unimaginable. I echo the feelings and words of so many around the country and around the world. President Obama called it a “heartbreaking situation” and “an attack on all humanity”. And indeed it is. Britain’s David Cameron said it was “the worst act of violence on French soil since the Second World War”.
It is not just those in the West who have spoken about these terrible crimes. Indeed the Iranian President sent a message condemning the attacks, and an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying:
Those terrorist groups that committed the Paris crimes do not believe in ethical principles and they are not loyal to any type of divine religion—including Islam.
A similar statement has been issued by the ruler of Kuwait. The President of the United Arab Emirates stated that they supported doing “what it takes to face terrorism and eliminate it”. The Qatari foreign minister also made a statement. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he described as the “despicable terrorist attacks” in Paris.
That is why acts like these most recent crimes will never succeed. Those who seek to divide us, and divide the world, have in fact caused the world to unite—to unite in defence of the shared values that were attacked, from all countries, all creeds and all religions. It is our shared beliefs and values that unite our countries: the love of freedom, of opportunity and of family.
From across the globe, from all sides of politics and from all religious quarters, we have seen not only condemnation but also resolve. Boris Johnson, the Conservative Lord Mayor of London, spoke of the special relationship that binds the cities of London and Paris. He said:
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