Mr BELL - 1995-08-22
I draw the Chief Minister's attention to the not particularly radical journal, the Australian Financial Review, which had this to say in its editorial about the Chief Minister's proposal to make flag burning a criminal offence:
Flag burning is one of the most legitimate forms of protest there is. Any suggestion that it should be
outlawed must be firmly rejected. Every attack on this country's existing civil liberties is regrettable.
When the attack is motivated by yet another sycophantic attempt to win favour with our Asian neighbours, many
of which have scant regard for human rights, such action deserves even greater condemnation.
Will the Chief Minister undertake not to attack the basic civil right that Australians have in their democratic society and which is to be upheld at all costs by this House - the civil right of freedom of speech?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, southern newspapers do not dictate Northern Territory government policy. Let me assure Territorians that the Australian Financial Review, a paper I read and in which I find some interesting articles from time to time, should not be so presumptuous as to presume that it will dictate to Territorians its views ...
Mr Bailey: Napoleon is back!
Page 793
Mr Stirling: You do that quite well.
Mr Bell: Nobody takes you seriously. You are ...
Mr Bailey: Bring in Josephine!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: This is the best they can do. Mr Speaker, they obtain all their information from reading newspapers because they are so lazy they cannot research anything of their own. They come in here and quote newspapers ...
A member: Secondhand ...
Mr STONE: ... secondhand, hand-me-down, hearsay articles which become the basis of their attack on this government.
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: How many research officers do you have?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will resume his seat. I have heard too much backchat from the opposition this morning. I expect to hear answers in reasonable silence. Reasonable interjection is permitted, but not the barrage that has been occurring. The next time either the member for Wanguri or the member for Nhulunbuy speaks over my calling for order, I will warn him once and then name him.
Mr STONE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Probably, they are looking for an early day because they do not like the late nights.
I will pick up the member for Wanguri's interjection, because he attempts to create the impression that the opposition is not resourced. I remind Territorians listening to this broadcast that the Leader of the Opposition is paid and resourced on the same basis as if he were a minister. Thus, the member should not tell me that he does not ...
Mr Bailey: We get one, and you get nine.
Mr STONE: You are a backbencher basically because you are not in government. The penny has not dropped. I suppose you want the same resources as a minister.
To return to the question I was asked, my concern is not about trying to make some sycophantic gesture to near neighbours. I have made it clear that I find equally offensive the proposition that a Territory or Australian flag could be burnt. I think that should be an offence, and I think that people listening to this broadcast would support my view. Burning the Territory flag or the Australian flag should be an offence!
Page 794
Flag burning is one of the most legitimate forms of protest there is. Any suggestion that it should be
outlawed must be firmly rejected. Every attack on this country's existing civil liberties is regrettable.
When the attack is motivated by yet another sycophantic attempt to win favour with our Asian neighbours, many
of which have scant regard for human rights, such action deserves even greater condemnation.
Will the Chief Minister undertake not to attack the basic civil right that Australians have in their democratic society and which is to be upheld at all costs by this House - the civil right of freedom of speech?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, southern newspapers do not dictate Northern Territory government policy. Let me assure Territorians that the Australian Financial Review, a paper I read and in which I find some interesting articles from time to time, should not be so presumptuous as to presume that it will dictate to Territorians its views ...
Mr Bailey: Napoleon is back!
Page 793
Mr Stirling: You do that quite well.
Mr Bell: Nobody takes you seriously. You are ...
Mr Bailey: Bring in Josephine!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: This is the best they can do. Mr Speaker, they obtain all their information from reading newspapers because they are so lazy they cannot research anything of their own. They come in here and quote newspapers ...
A member: Secondhand ...
Mr STONE: ... secondhand, hand-me-down, hearsay articles which become the basis of their attack on this government.
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: How many research officers do you have?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will resume his seat. I have heard too much backchat from the opposition this morning. I expect to hear answers in reasonable silence. Reasonable interjection is permitted, but not the barrage that has been occurring. The next time either the member for Wanguri or the member for Nhulunbuy speaks over my calling for order, I will warn him once and then name him.
Mr STONE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Probably, they are looking for an early day because they do not like the late nights.
I will pick up the member for Wanguri's interjection, because he attempts to create the impression that the opposition is not resourced. I remind Territorians listening to this broadcast that the Leader of the Opposition is paid and resourced on the same basis as if he were a minister. Thus, the member should not tell me that he does not ...
Mr Bailey: We get one, and you get nine.
Mr STONE: You are a backbencher basically because you are not in government. The penny has not dropped. I suppose you want the same resources as a minister.
To return to the question I was asked, my concern is not about trying to make some sycophantic gesture to near neighbours. I have made it clear that I find equally offensive the proposition that a Territory or Australian flag could be burnt. I think that should be an offence, and I think that people listening to this broadcast would support my view. Burning the Territory flag or the Australian flag should be an offence!
Page 794
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016