Mr AH KIT - 1996-02-21
The Chief Minister's colleagues have attempted to justify the use of the term `yellafella' in the recent Arnhem by-election. Last December, he refused to condemn the calling of Aboriginal people `coons', saying it was a matter of judgment as to whether the word `coon' was offensive. He also refused to condemn the member for Greatorex's use of the word `nigger', saying: `Whatever happened to, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me"?' Does the Chief Minister agree that his tolerance of racism in his party is encouraging a climate in which people express such views unrestrainedly?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I welcome the member's question. This feigned indignation from members opposite underlines what a bunch of phonies they really are. This whole issue ...
Mr Ede: Do you reckon that ...
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer?
Mr Ede: Don't you think it hurts?
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Let me make this point: tolerance is a 2-way street.
Mr Ede: Stop making excuses.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr STONE: I will come to you very shortly.
With regard to what obviously causes offence, I grew up in a household where it was impressed upon me that you do not say things which are hurtful or embarrassing to others. Nor do you speak with vitriol or maliciously.
Mr Ede: But you stand aside when somebody else does it.
Mr Ah Kit: What are you going to do about it?
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Mr STONE: The member for Arnhem gets to his feet and says: `Why don't you do something about people who refer to "yellafellas"?' I remember this letter appearing in the NT News on Wednesday 18 October. I will read the letter into Hansard. It is headed `Astonished reaction'.
Astonishment, absolute astonishment, was my reaction when I read of Brian Ede's outrage at a CLP member
referring to Mr Ah Kit as a `yellafella' during the recent by-election. Following a shadow Cabinet meeting
in Borroloola on Thursday 23 March 1995, I had a beer with Mr Ede at the Borroloola Inn and, in the course of
the conversation, he referred to a group of Aboriginal people living near Borroloola as `yellafellas'. If
Mr Ah Kit decides to take the CLP member to task before the Race Relations Board or any other organisation,
then I would feel compelled to take Mr Ede before the same organisation, as I was deeply offended by Mr Ede's
descriptive terminology - well, about as offended as Mr Ah Kit was during the election campaign.
Graham Watson, Cox Peninsula.
Yesterday, I was beaten around the ears because I did not challenge the way that I had been reported on the conscience vote relating to euthanasia. This is from Wednesday 18 October 1995. I have waited all this time to hear from the Leader of the Opposition that this letter is not true. It has never been refuted. There has not even been a single letter to the editor about it. There has been absolutely nothing. This information has been made public. He has had
6 months. He hoped it would go away. That is exactly what happened. Mr Speaker, I table the letter.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I have obviously pushed the right button.
Mr Speaker, the member for Arnhem got to his feet and said that the member for Greatorex had used the word `nigger'. He told only half the story. The member for Greatorex used the saying `nigger in the woodpile', and he apologised. He said: `If I have caused any hurt ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr STONE: I am glad the member for Nhulunbuy has interjected. When he stepped into the lift yesterday morning with the member for Fannie Bay, he said to the member for Araluen words to the effect: `Here comes a nigger in the woodpile'.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: It is all a big joke, is it?
Mr Stirling: You are lower than a snake.
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Mr STONE: Ah, but you said it was a joke. I wonder what the member for Arnhem, who must be squirming in his seat now ...
Ms MARTIN: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I was mentioned by the Chief Minister in relation to what the Chief Minister just said ...
Mr Stone: You will have an opportunity to speak later. I am only half-way through my answer.
Ms MARTIN: I was mentioned in what the Chief Minister just said. I was there and the member for Nhulunbuy definitely did not say that. I demand a retraction. I am a witness and I demand a retraction.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: That just goes to show some of the double standards that are applied.
Mr Bailey: Yes, the double standard you have, that sees you come in here and lie to try to defend your ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will please resume his seat. The member for Wanguri is also on a warning.
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, I make the point that we should all be careful about what we say and that we should be sensitive to other people's feelings. The member for Arnhem has tried to whip up hysteria over the word `coon'. Simply consider the way they come with the question: `Do you think the word "coon" is all right?' It is the same kind of question as, `Have you stopped beating your wife?' Unless the answer is given that the questioner wants, it is assumed that the person being asked does indeed beat his wife.
Ellen Fanning spoke on the AM program this morning about `a chink in the Coalition's armour'. Is the member for Greatorex supposed to be outraged by that sort of commentary? You are just too cute, you lot. The simple facts are that we have on the record a documented example, that has never been refuted, of the Leader of the Opposition using the word `yellafella'. We have the allegation, relayed to me by the member for Araluen, that the member for Nhulunbuy, in the presence of the member for Fannie Bay, said: `Here comes another nigger in the woodpile'. At various times, I have heard everybody in this Chamber say things that they probably regret having said.
A member: Never about you.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I am not fussed. I have stood here over the years and I have been called a fat slob by the member for Wanguri. I have been called a fascist and a Nazi.
Page 1183
Mr Ede: You have not.
Mr STONE: I have so.
Mr Ede: In this parliament?
Mr STONE: In this parliament.
Mr Ede: By whom?
Mr STONE: By the member for Wanguri. I am not fussed. It is water off a duck's back. I think the only thing that ever upset me ...
Mr Bailey: I said it of the political philosophy that you espoused.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey: I am quite happy to say that any day of the week.
Mr STONE: He has just contradicted his leader. That is good back-up, Brian. You have a real team there. You are absolutely hopeless.
The point that I wanted to end on is that some words are offensive. I remember being called a `white c...' in a particular meeting. I did become upset at that, but it was later retracted by the Aboriginal person concerned. He said: `I am sorry. I got angry'. At the first opportunity, the member for Greatorex said publicly: `If I have caused any offence, I am sorry'. Was it tactless? It probably was, and he was the first to admit that. Where is your sense of forgiveness and reconciliation? Is this the most important issue you lot have to raise? Is this feigned indignation symptomatic of where the Labor Party in the Territory is coming from? Don't you have any real issues on which to hang your hat? As the kids say - get serious.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I welcome the member's question. This feigned indignation from members opposite underlines what a bunch of phonies they really are. This whole issue ...
Mr Ede: Do you reckon that ...
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer?
Mr Ede: Don't you think it hurts?
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Let me make this point: tolerance is a 2-way street.
Mr Ede: Stop making excuses.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr STONE: I will come to you very shortly.
With regard to what obviously causes offence, I grew up in a household where it was impressed upon me that you do not say things which are hurtful or embarrassing to others. Nor do you speak with vitriol or maliciously.
Mr Ede: But you stand aside when somebody else does it.
Mr Ah Kit: What are you going to do about it?
Page 1181
Mr STONE: The member for Arnhem gets to his feet and says: `Why don't you do something about people who refer to "yellafellas"?' I remember this letter appearing in the NT News on Wednesday 18 October. I will read the letter into Hansard. It is headed `Astonished reaction'.
Astonishment, absolute astonishment, was my reaction when I read of Brian Ede's outrage at a CLP member
referring to Mr Ah Kit as a `yellafella' during the recent by-election. Following a shadow Cabinet meeting
in Borroloola on Thursday 23 March 1995, I had a beer with Mr Ede at the Borroloola Inn and, in the course of
the conversation, he referred to a group of Aboriginal people living near Borroloola as `yellafellas'. If
Mr Ah Kit decides to take the CLP member to task before the Race Relations Board or any other organisation,
then I would feel compelled to take Mr Ede before the same organisation, as I was deeply offended by Mr Ede's
descriptive terminology - well, about as offended as Mr Ah Kit was during the election campaign.
Graham Watson, Cox Peninsula.
Yesterday, I was beaten around the ears because I did not challenge the way that I had been reported on the conscience vote relating to euthanasia. This is from Wednesday 18 October 1995. I have waited all this time to hear from the Leader of the Opposition that this letter is not true. It has never been refuted. There has not even been a single letter to the editor about it. There has been absolutely nothing. This information has been made public. He has had
6 months. He hoped it would go away. That is exactly what happened. Mr Speaker, I table the letter.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I have obviously pushed the right button.
Mr Speaker, the member for Arnhem got to his feet and said that the member for Greatorex had used the word `nigger'. He told only half the story. The member for Greatorex used the saying `nigger in the woodpile', and he apologised. He said: `If I have caused any hurt ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr STONE: I am glad the member for Nhulunbuy has interjected. When he stepped into the lift yesterday morning with the member for Fannie Bay, he said to the member for Araluen words to the effect: `Here comes a nigger in the woodpile'.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: It is all a big joke, is it?
Mr Stirling: You are lower than a snake.
Page 1182
Mr STONE: Ah, but you said it was a joke. I wonder what the member for Arnhem, who must be squirming in his seat now ...
Ms MARTIN: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I was mentioned by the Chief Minister in relation to what the Chief Minister just said ...
Mr Stone: You will have an opportunity to speak later. I am only half-way through my answer.
Ms MARTIN: I was mentioned in what the Chief Minister just said. I was there and the member for Nhulunbuy definitely did not say that. I demand a retraction. I am a witness and I demand a retraction.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: That just goes to show some of the double standards that are applied.
Mr Bailey: Yes, the double standard you have, that sees you come in here and lie to try to defend your ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will please resume his seat. The member for Wanguri is also on a warning.
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, I make the point that we should all be careful about what we say and that we should be sensitive to other people's feelings. The member for Arnhem has tried to whip up hysteria over the word `coon'. Simply consider the way they come with the question: `Do you think the word "coon" is all right?' It is the same kind of question as, `Have you stopped beating your wife?' Unless the answer is given that the questioner wants, it is assumed that the person being asked does indeed beat his wife.
Ellen Fanning spoke on the AM program this morning about `a chink in the Coalition's armour'. Is the member for Greatorex supposed to be outraged by that sort of commentary? You are just too cute, you lot. The simple facts are that we have on the record a documented example, that has never been refuted, of the Leader of the Opposition using the word `yellafella'. We have the allegation, relayed to me by the member for Araluen, that the member for Nhulunbuy, in the presence of the member for Fannie Bay, said: `Here comes another nigger in the woodpile'. At various times, I have heard everybody in this Chamber say things that they probably regret having said.
A member: Never about you.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I am not fussed. I have stood here over the years and I have been called a fat slob by the member for Wanguri. I have been called a fascist and a Nazi.
Page 1183
Mr Ede: You have not.
Mr STONE: I have so.
Mr Ede: In this parliament?
Mr STONE: In this parliament.
Mr Ede: By whom?
Mr STONE: By the member for Wanguri. I am not fussed. It is water off a duck's back. I think the only thing that ever upset me ...
Mr Bailey: I said it of the political philosophy that you espoused.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey: I am quite happy to say that any day of the week.
Mr STONE: He has just contradicted his leader. That is good back-up, Brian. You have a real team there. You are absolutely hopeless.
The point that I wanted to end on is that some words are offensive. I remember being called a `white c...' in a particular meeting. I did become upset at that, but it was later retracted by the Aboriginal person concerned. He said: `I am sorry. I got angry'. At the first opportunity, the member for Greatorex said publicly: `If I have caused any offence, I am sorry'. Was it tactless? It probably was, and he was the first to admit that. Where is your sense of forgiveness and reconciliation? Is this the most important issue you lot have to raise? Is this feigned indignation symptomatic of where the Labor Party in the Territory is coming from? Don't you have any real issues on which to hang your hat? As the kids say - get serious.
Page 1184
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016