"I remember returning from Malaysia after visiting my family there during this time. When the aeroplane wheels hit the tarmac, I recall feeling like this really was my country—not just in my heart, but that I was included, that our national identity was for me as well. Nationhood is so much about a shared history and a belief in a shared future.
How different Australia is today. Never forget that it was this current Prime Minister who called for a reduction in Asian immigration in 1988. He said that the pace of Asian immigration was a cause for concern. You might take that to mean that those Asians who were here in 1988 are welcome, but not necessarily all of those who have arrived since.
The Prime Minister premised his arguments on the grounds of social cohesion. You have to ask what effect his own comments had on social cohesion. I know how it felt for me and my family and many like us during this time.
Then there was Pauline Hanson, who said we were in danger of being overrun by Asians. And what did the Prime Minister do? Did he as the Prime Minister show that moral leadership which was called for? When asked to comment on whether Aboriginal and Asian Australians should be protected from people like Pauline Hanson, the Prime Minister said: "Well, are you saying that somebody shouldn't be allowed to say what she said? I would say in a country such as Australia people should be allowed to say that."
What sort of message does this send to our community? That it is acceptable to rail against people who look different? That these sorts of comments are no different from any other sort of political commentary? Leadership was called for, not to deny freedom of speech but to assert the harm in what she said. Leadership was called for, but it was not provided."
Penny is currently the Minister for Climate Change and Water. I never read this back in 2001 or in 2007 when the election was going on. I really wish I did, quite an interesting read.
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