{"id":3729,"date":"2013-05-09T15:05:39","date_gmt":"2013-05-09T05:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com\/?p=3729"},"modified":"2019-04-13T23:24:14","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T13:24:14","slug":"the-forgotten-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/the-forgotten-people\/","title":{"rendered":"The Forgotten People"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chinese

Chinese President Hu Jintao addressed parliament during his 2003 visit, which marked a shift in China’s attitude to Australia. Picture: AP Source: AP<\/p><\/div>\n

By Margo Kingston
\n<\/a>May 9, 2013<\/p>\n

The day after Howard, Abbott and Brandis, among other Liberals, pulverised our freedoms for George Bush<\/a>, they did it again for Chinese President Hu. This chapter of my book is Part 5 in our series of memory joggers for shadow Attorney General George Brandis, in the hope that he revises his recent speech this week proclaiming his Party a champion of free speech. Senator Brandis has rather oddly chosen not to publish the speech online so it can be freely read by voters, so for now check out the transcript of the @alberichi interview<\/a> after he delivered it.<\/p>\n

In our time, we must decide our own belief.<\/strong>
\nEither freedom is the privilege of an elite few, or it is the<\/strong>
\nright and capacity of all humanity<\/strong>
\nGeorge Bush, address to the Australian Parliament, 23 October 2003<\/p>\n

There are fascist tendencies in all countries \u2013 a sort of latent<\/strong>
\ntyranny . . . Suppression of attack, which is based upon suppression<\/strong>
\nof really free thought, is the instinctive weapon of the vested<\/strong>
\ninterest . . . great groups which feel their power are at once subject<\/strong>
\nto tremendous temptations to use that power so as to limit the<\/strong>
\nfreedom of others<\/strong>
\nRobert Menzies, \u2018Freedom of Speech and Expression\u2019, from<\/p>\n

\n


\n24 October 2003<\/b><\/p>\n

Speaker Andrew and Senate President Calvert wait at the side entrance of Parliament House to greet President Hu. A white car pulls up but instead of Hu, Chinese Foreign Minis- ter Li Zhaoxing alights to express \u2018some concerns\u2019. Andrew, Calvert and the Foreign Minister adjourn to Andrew\u2019s office, where Li says Hu is worried about \u2018two Green Sena- tors in the chamber and three guests \u2013 \u201cdissidents\u201d he called them \u2013 in the gallery, who were likely to interrupt the President\u2019s speech\u2019. Li names Chin Jin.<\/p>\n

Andrew assures Li that the Greens\u2019 senators will not get in, and that Chin Jin will not be in the public gallery. \u2018The Speaker repeatedly gave them assurances, as best he could, that that was not going to happen. They seemed satisfied with  that.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

(Revealed by Calvert to Senate Estimates on 3 November<\/i> <\/i>2003.)<\/i><\/p>\n

When the Australian Tibetans arrive at Parliament House Chinese agents point them out to Australian security, who call Andrew. The security officers take them to the enclosed, soundproofed gallery. They cannot follow Hu\u2019s speech because Andrew does not provide translation devices.<\/p>\n

Chin Jin is in the office of his host, Greens MP Michael Organ, when Organ is told the fate of the two Tibetan guests. Two officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs escort Chin Jin to the security check area, then into the soundproofed area. Two Chinese officials closely watch the three guests while talking on mobile phones.<\/p>\n

Three Parliament House security officers block senators Brown and Nettle from entering the House of Representatives. Senator Brian Harradine boycotts Hu\u2019s speech. John Howard makes no mention of human rights or democracy in his welcome to Hu, but stresses the trade relationship.<\/p>\n

Several Liberals refuse to applaud Hu\u2019s speech, including NSW Senator Bill Heffernan, who also pointedly fails to use his translation device during the speech.<\/p>\n

After Hu\u2019s speech, NSW Liberal Senator Marise Payne muses over coffee, \u2018I have to say something about Tibet.\u2019<\/p>\n

At the joint Hu\u2013Howard press conference, Howard states, \u2018I can say very confidently that it is a strong relationship built on mutual respect for each other\u2019s traditions.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That evening Speaker Neil Andrew refuses to tell the Australian people what he\u2019s done, declining to comment when the media calls. The next day the Sydn<\/i>e<\/i>y Morning Herald <\/i>and the Australia<\/i>n <\/i>break the story of the Chinese Foreign Minister\u2019s intervention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read the full chapter below.<\/p>\n