Mr SETTER - 1996-11-28
Last night in the adjournment debate, the member for Fannie Bay, in speaking about the Sweet and Sour exhibition at the Northern Territory museum, made the following comment:
Sweet and Sour also explores some of the characteristics of being Chinese in the Territory - the
balancing act of being Australian but still being Chinese. One description given was that it was like
being a banana - yellow on the outside while white on the inside.
The member for Greatorex, who is of Chinese/Malaysian origin, interjected and cautioned the member for Fannie Bay that the term was derogatory. As I understand it, the member for Fannie Bay responded that it was a description given by a person at the exhibition.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE A point of order, Mr Speaker! I am trying to listen to the question. I have missed the latter part of the question and I would like to hear what the member is asking.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but I ask members to refrain from interjecting while the member is asking a question. I too was having difficulty hearing the question. I would appreciate being able to do so.
Mr SETTER: Mr Speaker, the member for Fannie Bay responded that it was the description given by a person at the exhibition and she thought it was worth repeating. Does the minister consider this to be an appropriate statement for any member of parliament to be making even if they are simply repeating the comments of others?
Members interjecting.
Ms Martin: It was on the documentation.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister for Ethnic Affairs has the floor.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, whether it was quoting somebody, whether it was quoting documentation ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER Order! The member for Wanguri will withdraw that remark. It is a reflection on the Chair and I will not wear it.
Mr Bailey: I withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: You will stand to withdraw it, please.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HATTON: Whether it was in documentation, as the member for Fannie Bay interjects ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Members on the opposition benches are trying my patience to the limit. I will not continue to warn them. I am prepared to name further members.
Mr HATTON: Mr Speaker, when you are a white Anglo-Saxon like the member for Fannie Bay ...
Ms Martin: Celtic, thank you.
Mr HATTON: Anglo-Celtic if she prefers. The fact is she is what would be called a typically white Australian. They do not realise how cutting some of these remarks can be to people. Let me give you an example, Mr Speaker ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: The member gave it with great delight. She thought it was worth repeating.
Mr Stirling: You don't worry when your mate uses `nigger in the woodpile'.
Mr HATTON: Don't you talk!
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Let me give an example of another situation that members opposite should be very sensitive to. It occurred some years ago to a friend of mine, an Aboriginal man who is today well-respected as a national figure among Aboriginal people. Some years ago, that person had the audacity to stand for the CLP in Arnhem Land. Do you know what he copped all throughout the campaign from the Labor Party supporters - that he was a coconut, black on the outside and white on the inside. That drove him out of public life for years.
This description of a Darwin Chinese as a banana is equally derogatory. As we discussed in a debate at these sittings, these people are the descendants of pioneers of the Northern Territory. They are proudly Territorian, but being Territorian does not make them white. Among their families, they are still very proud and live within their Chinese culture. The member for Fannie Bay, who took great delight, clearly offended the member for Greatorex ...
Mr Stirling: He used the expression `nigger in the woodpile'. It is a joke.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much interjection. It is mainly from the opposition benches, but also there is far too much discussion on the government benches. I would appreciate some silence. I am having difficulty in hearing the answer. I am sure that listeners on radio are also having a great deal of difficulty. It is the bad manners of this parliament that is causing it.
Mr HATTON: I do not believe it should be described ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: ... as such, and I certainly do not think it is worth repeating in this House. There is only one response to the comments from the member for Fannie Bay last night, and that is that I am disgusted.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri is warned.
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Sweet and Sour also explores some of the characteristics of being Chinese in the Territory - the
balancing act of being Australian but still being Chinese. One description given was that it was like
being a banana - yellow on the outside while white on the inside.
The member for Greatorex, who is of Chinese/Malaysian origin, interjected and cautioned the member for Fannie Bay that the term was derogatory. As I understand it, the member for Fannie Bay responded that it was a description given by a person at the exhibition.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE A point of order, Mr Speaker! I am trying to listen to the question. I have missed the latter part of the question and I would like to hear what the member is asking.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but I ask members to refrain from interjecting while the member is asking a question. I too was having difficulty hearing the question. I would appreciate being able to do so.
Mr SETTER: Mr Speaker, the member for Fannie Bay responded that it was the description given by a person at the exhibition and she thought it was worth repeating. Does the minister consider this to be an appropriate statement for any member of parliament to be making even if they are simply repeating the comments of others?
Members interjecting.
Ms Martin: It was on the documentation.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister for Ethnic Affairs has the floor.
Page 1865
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, whether it was quoting somebody, whether it was quoting documentation ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER Order! The member for Wanguri will withdraw that remark. It is a reflection on the Chair and I will not wear it.
Mr Bailey: I withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: You will stand to withdraw it, please.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HATTON: Whether it was in documentation, as the member for Fannie Bay interjects ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Members on the opposition benches are trying my patience to the limit. I will not continue to warn them. I am prepared to name further members.
Mr HATTON: Mr Speaker, when you are a white Anglo-Saxon like the member for Fannie Bay ...
Ms Martin: Celtic, thank you.
Mr HATTON: Anglo-Celtic if she prefers. The fact is she is what would be called a typically white Australian. They do not realise how cutting some of these remarks can be to people. Let me give you an example, Mr Speaker ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: The member gave it with great delight. She thought it was worth repeating.
Mr Stirling: You don't worry when your mate uses `nigger in the woodpile'.
Mr HATTON: Don't you talk!
Page 1866
Let me give an example of another situation that members opposite should be very sensitive to. It occurred some years ago to a friend of mine, an Aboriginal man who is today well-respected as a national figure among Aboriginal people. Some years ago, that person had the audacity to stand for the CLP in Arnhem Land. Do you know what he copped all throughout the campaign from the Labor Party supporters - that he was a coconut, black on the outside and white on the inside. That drove him out of public life for years.
This description of a Darwin Chinese as a banana is equally derogatory. As we discussed in a debate at these sittings, these people are the descendants of pioneers of the Northern Territory. They are proudly Territorian, but being Territorian does not make them white. Among their families, they are still very proud and live within their Chinese culture. The member for Fannie Bay, who took great delight, clearly offended the member for Greatorex ...
Mr Stirling: He used the expression `nigger in the woodpile'. It is a joke.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much interjection. It is mainly from the opposition benches, but also there is far too much discussion on the government benches. I would appreciate some silence. I am having difficulty in hearing the answer. I am sure that listeners on radio are also having a great deal of difficulty. It is the bad manners of this parliament that is causing it.
Mr HATTON: I do not believe it should be described ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HATTON: ... as such, and I certainly do not think it is worth repeating in this House. There is only one response to the comments from the member for Fannie Bay last night, and that is that I am disgusted.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri is warned.
Page 1867
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016