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- 31 August 2006
Australian Flags on Police Vehicles
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Mr PETER DEBNAM (Vaucluse—Leader of the Opposition) [12.15 p.m.]: I move:
That this House notes that a proposal to promote the flying of the Australian flag on New South Wales police vehicles on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day has been rejected by the Minister for Police.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to this motion today. It has been some time since I placed the matter on notice.
Mr Paul McLeay: It is one of your 200 policies.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Yes, it is. The Minister for Police referred to in the motion is the Hon. Carl Scully. I placed the motion on notice some time ago because it was a matter of concern to me then, as it is now. Before I discuss the merits of the motion, I welcome to the gallery students from the Lindfield Public School, which I am informed by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, is a great school. Some years ago I suggested to the police Minister, the Hon. Carl Scully, that we should embrace the Australian flag by attaching small Australian flags to the aerials of police vehicles. I suggested that we should purchase them and distribute them to local area commands for the purpose of police cars or trucks flying the flag every day and that, beyond that, and more importantly, police vehicles could fly the Australian flag on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
I thought the suggestion was straightforward and easy to implement. I know that it is cheap to buy a couple of thousand small flags and I could not see how it would be a problem. However, I was absolutely stunned when the Minister for Police said that he would not approve it. I asked myself which planet the Minister for Police was living on, but a check revealed that, lo and behold, the Minister for Police at an early stage wanted to change the flag. I then began to understand that the Labor Party and Carl Scully would simply not support flying the Australian flag on police vehicles. Here we go again!
Although I am pleased to inform the House that some police officers have taken it upon themselves to fly the Australian flag on police cars, the flags are not new. They have obviously been around for a while and have not been replaced from government stocks. This motion presents an opportunity for the Labor Party today to acknowledge that, albeit three years later, it accepts my proposal and will purchase a couple of thousand small Australian flags and fly them on police vehicles. How difficult is that? Why should we not do it? I have served in the Navy under the Australian flag. A number of Coalition members have served in the military under the Australian flag. We are very proud of the Australian flag. I know that Carl Scully wants to change the design of the flag, but I think his colleagues should veto that and instead support the motion.
On most government buildings throughout New South Wales, the Government does not insist on flying the Australian flag. If a flagpole falls down or fails in some way, the Government has not rushed to fix it and keep the flag flying, and that is a shame. It is a disgrace. The Australian community would not be very pleased with that at all or with this issue. The idea of flying Australian flags on police vehicles came from the police. I received an email from NSW Police saying, "How about getting a couple of thousand small Australian flags and flying them on police cars in New South Wales, especially on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day". I thought that was a great idea and I thought that the Minister for Police and the Labor Party would agree with me.
[Interruption]
Yes, support the Diggers, and support all the schoolchildren who wrap themselves in the Australian flag, which we saw happen at the Olympics and time and again at community events. It is a very simple thing to do. It would cost bikkies from the State budget, a very minor expense, to purchase those flags. But, no, the Minister for Police ruled it out. I did some research and found that the Minister for Police did not agree with the design of the Australian flag, he proposed to change it. I was very disappointed with that and, to some extent, I suppose that is the sort of image of the Minister the public has seen. That probably explains why the public disagrees with him.
I say to the Labor Government: let us get behind this; let us do this. It is simple. The Government could cut back on some of its expenses—just knock off a couple of its radio advertisements tomorrow morning. The Labor Government spends a couple of million dollars a week on political advertising at taxpayers' expense. It could take out two or three of its radio advertisements tomorrow morning and use that money to purchase Australian flags for police vehicles. That would be the right thing to do for the police and for the people, and our flag would be flying.
Mr Alan Ashton: When John Howard cuts back the WorkChoices ads we will cut back ours, mate. Is that a deal?
Mr PETER DEBNAM: I disagree with political advertising. Labor's ads are extraordinary. Labor is spending $100 million of taxpayers' funds on Labor Party advertising, not only on television. It is spending a couple of million dollars a week.
Mr Gerard Martin: Follow the right protocol. You should know the flag protocols.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: I do. The honourable member for Bathurst wants to talk about flag protocols. I know what the flag protocols are, and he knows what political advertising is: a couple of million dollars a week on political advertising on every television station, except the ABC, and every radio station, in every newspaper not only in Sydney but across New South Wales. The Labor Party has spent so much of taxpayers' funds that currently some radio stations in Sydney are running its political ads back to back, paid for by taxpayers. I suggest the Labor Government take a few thousand dollars out of its advertising budget and buy some Australian flags—overrule the Minister for Police. He might not like the Australian flag, but let us overrule him and put the equivalent of the cost of a couple of radio advertisements towards buying Australian flags and give them to the police. The police will fly the flags not only on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, but every day.
Mr Alan Ashton: Tim Priest can give a flag, you can donate your flag and I will donate mine.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: If the Labor Party votes against this motion, I probably will buy NSW Police the flags they need to put on their cars. I am very happy to put my money where my mouth is. Let us do that. Today the Labor Party has an opportunity, as it did three years ago when it did not overrule the current Minister for Police. Labor members should overrule him, say no; they could say they support the Australian flag and the police. The flags cost only a couple of dollars each.
Mr Alan Ashton: You are kite flying more than flag flying.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: The honourable member for East Hills might think this is a laughable issue. However, the police put the proposal to the Opposition. The police want to fly the flag, and the community wants to fly the flag. The Labor Party might not support this motion, but does the honourable member for East Hills support the Australian flag?
Mr Alan Ashton: I've got one in my office.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Do you support it?
Mr Alan Ashton: You bet I do.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Why does the Minister for Police not support it?
Mr Alan Ashton: He said it is up to the police—they can put one on if they want to.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: The Minister for Police does not support the Australian flag. How about overruling the Minister and voting for this motion?
Ms Marianne Saliba: That would suit you.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: It would suit the police.
Ms Marianne Saliba: The police could request it if they want it. Let the police do what they want.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Why will the Government not pay for it? Take out some Labor Government radio advertising and pay for the flags, and we will put them on every police car. If the Labor Party votes down this motion today, I will pay for the flags.
Mr Alan Ashton: Good. You will pay for the whole lot? Good on you. I thought you were going to send all the cops out to arrest all the gangs with the Australian flag flying. Haven't you got any other policies?
Mr PETER DEBNAM: All right, if the Government votes it down, I will pay for the flags. I want a commitment from the Labor Party that when I buy the flags, they will be given to the police and not to the Minister for Police, because we do not know what he will do with them. I want a commitment from the Government that if I buy the flags, they will be given to police. But the Government has a better option, and that is to vote for the motion today.
Mr PAUL McLEAY (Heathcote—Parliamentary Secretary) [12.25 p.m.]: The motion notes that the Minister for Police rejected this proposal. That is simply not the case and that is why I will not support the motion. It is based on an untruth. The motion suggests that the Minister for Police rejected a proposal to fly flags. The Minister made no such rejection. It is an operational issue. I note that in 2005 the Leader of the Opposition asked about the flying of Australian flags on police vehicles on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day At that time he was provided with an answer. His memory is poor. I can confirm that the flying of flags on police vehicles is an operational decision for NSW Police, but one that the Government does not and would not discourage.
The Leader of the Opposition continues to deliver nothing on policing policy. He refuses to supply even tacit acknowledgement that the New South Wales police force has achieved outstanding results in driving down crime across the State. In his speech in reply to the budget, he had 45 minutes in which he could outline his plans for policing in New South Wales. Did he announce any new policing policies? Did he outline that if in government his party would continue to equip the New South Wales police force with the powers and resources to fight crime? No. All the people got was deafening silence, a policy vacuum that makes a mockery of his claims to being the alternative premier.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: The motion is specific, it is about the flying of the Australian flag on police vehicles on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day—very significant, much revered and reverent days.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): What is your point of order?
Mr Brad Hazzard: The Parliamentary Secretary is not talking about the issue. He has gone right outside the leave of the motion. I know from past rulings you have given that you will direct him to come back and speak specifically to that issue.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary is getting to the point. The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Madam Acting-Speaker, he has been speaking for 2½ minutes and has not addressed that issue.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The Parliamentary Secretary has the call.
Mr PAUL McLEAY: It was one of my opening lines. I have been talking about it for the last two minutes.
Mr Brad Hazzard: So you admit that you are not talking about Australian flags flying on police cars on those most revered days?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat.
Mr PAUL McLEAY: That is another lie from the Leader of the Opposition. It is interesting that just earlier this month the Leader of the Opposition was in my electorate at Sutherland police station calling the Commissioner of Police a clown. How is that for absolute hypocrisy?
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: The only clown here now is the honourable member for Heathcote, who is not talking to the motion before the House. Either there are forms of the House—
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! There is no point of order. The honourable member for Wakehurst knows better than that. The Parliamentary Secretary has the call.
Mr Brad Hazzard: So, you are going to allow him to speak outside the motion? Is that the standard for all of us now?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! A fair amount of latitude is allowed in these debates. There is no point of order.
Mr Brad Hazzard: So we are going to be able to speak outside the leave of the motion?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The Parliamentary Secretary has the call. The honourable member for Wakehurst will have an opportunity to speak if he wishes to do so. He must resume his seat.
Mr PAUL McLEAY: Instead of engaging in a genuine debate about a whole range of issues affecting law and order, the Leader of the Opposition wants to discuss flags. Whilst we acknowledge that that issue is important, we also know that the people of New South Wales deserve better and expect more from the Coalition. I suppose we should be relieved, because we know that if he was not mouthing erroneous platitudes about this issue, the Leader of the Opposition would just fall back on his usual modus operandi_that is, attacking the hard-working Commissioner of Police, Ken Moroney, and undermining the achievements of the dedicated men and women of the New South Wales police force.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: We have had an achievement in that, for 10 seconds, the Parliamentary Secretary referred to the substantive part of the motion. The point here, with due regard, is respect or lack of it for the standing orders. I understand the pressures that you are placed under, but this is the most wilful disregard of the limits of a debate—
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! There is no point of order.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Your action in refusing to stand up for the Australian flag does you no good with your—
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I will not debate this matter with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. There is no point of order.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: It does you no good with your voters. It does you no good. For him to describe the motion as "erroneous platitudes" displays the disdain of the honourable member for Heathcote for the Australian flag—
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Parliamentary Secretary has the call.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: I am surprised you are supporting him in that. I ask that you support the flag, Madam Acting-Speaker.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition should take his point of order on the Parliamentary Secretary. The Parliamentary Secretary may resume his speech.
Mr PAUL McLEAY: This Government offers its total support to the New South Wales police force. We are committed to giving our front-line police officers the resources and powers they need to drive down crime. That is why we are backing NSW Police with record funding in this year's budget. The Treasurer announced that the police budget would increase by $160 million, or 7.9 per cent, in 2006-07, more than twice the rate of inflation, to a record $2.2 billion. The crime figures show that our approach is working. The Government has not fallen into complacency, however. The Premier recently announced that 750 additional police officers would be drafted into the force, which will increase our authorised strength to a record 15,206 officers.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: I do not know how many times we have to raise this issue, but the motion is very clear and it is very limited.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! There is no point of order.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Standing Order 138 requires that whatever he says is relevant to this motion, Madam Acting-Speaker, and what you are doing is allowing him to broad range—
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat. The Parliamentary Secretary may continue.
Mr PAUL McLEAY: Once again, for the convenience of those members opposite who were not in the Chamber to hear the majority of what I said: In 2005 the Leader of the Opposition asked about flying the Australian flag on police vehicles on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. He was provided with an answer at the time. I remind him of that and confirm that the flying of flags on police vehicles is an operational decision for NSW Police, but something that the Government would not and does not discourage. The motion suggests that the Minister for Police rejected the application, and that simply is not true. The Minister the Police did no such thing. For the Leader of the Opposition to base a motion on a lie demonstrates his contempt for the police service and for this Parliament.
The Leader of the Opposition spoke about respecting standing orders, having moved a motion based on an untruth. That is something we will debate and something that exposes him as the fraud he is. The Leader of the Opposition continues his baseless smear campaign and his pathetic attacks not only on the standing orders of this House but also on the police. He will never master the talent and policy vacuum that exists on that side of the Chamber when it comes to policing policy. This Government stands proudly by its support for this State's front-line police and for the commissioner. We respect them and will give them the powers and the funding to do their job, because that is having a real effect on crime.
Mr STEVEN PRINGLE (Hawkesbury) [12.34 p.m.]: How appropriate it is that, after 2½ years of waiting, this motion comes on for debate today. Next Sunday, Father's Day, 3 September, is also National Flag Day, but that seems to have been lost on Government members. Sunday is National Flag Day. It is also appropriate that the Leader of the Opposition should have moved this motion today. One of his predecessors, Lieutenant Colonel Murray Robson, was the member for Vaucluse from 1936 until 1957. He also was a significant member of the Australian Army. Lieutenant Colonel Murray Robson commanded the 2nd/31st Battalion, which accepted the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces at Bandjermasin. At the surrender ceremony the Australian flag was raised alongside the Dutch and American flags. The Leader of the Opposition has carried on the proud tradition of supporting the flying of the Australian flag.
It is important to contrast what the Federal Government does to encourage the flying of the Australian flag. The Federal Government provides free flagpoles to schools throughout New South Wales and Federal parliamentarians are given free flagpoles. The Federal Government also provides members of Parliament with a simple method for distributing flags to schools and other community organisations. Contrast that with what this Government does and the difficulties involved in supplying a New South Wales flag. Honourable members will note the presence of this State's flag on the wall in this Chamber.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: Are any standing orders applying during this debate, or does it not suit you to stand up for the flag?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for Hawkesbury may continue.
Mr STEVEN PRINGLE: There are some first-term members opposite, just like me. No doubt when they were first elected they wanted to promote the New South Wales flag. They might have approached the protocol branch of the Premier's Department—as I did—and said, "Could I have 20 or 50 flags to hand out when a school or a community group asks for a flag?" What is the rigmarole, the bureaucratic nonsense that the Government insists on? You have to have a letter or an email from the organisation and you have to send that off to the Premier's Department. It probably costs $50 or $100 to get each flag to your office so you can hand it out. That is nonsense! It is typical bureaucratic nonsense! This Government wastes taxpayers' money over and over again.
Mr Gerard Martin: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. The motion refers to the Australian flag being flown on police vehicles on certain days. Our friend is talking about anything other than that. Really, we want him to come out of the closet. He wants to fly the Union Jack on our police cars—then he might get your preselection.
Mr STEVEN PRINGLE: Come on, just settle down here!
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I have not ruled on the point of order. The honourable member for Hawkesbury may continue because these debates are wide ranging; we are flexible in this House.
Mr STEVEN PRINGLE: The point I was attempting to make was that we encourage the flying of the flag. I have no doubt that when the Coalition is elected to office next year it will be far simpler to hand out the New South Wales flag. It will be far easier for government departments to fly the flag. That is what this is all about. The Opposition encourages the flying of the Australian flag. [Time expired.]
Mr RICHARD AMERY (Mount Druitt) [12.39 p.m.]: I support the Parliamentary Secretary in opposing the motion before the House.
Mr Peter Debnam: Are you for the flag or against it?
Mr RICHARD AMERY: I will come to that. We have nothing against the proposition of displaying Australian flags on police vehicles on occasion. However, it is a nonsense for the Parliament of New South Wales—the oldest Parliament in Australia—to pass a motion instructing the police to display flags on police vehicles on certain days. The Parliamentary Secretary was correct when he said it was an operational matter. As to the flag, I think the Australian flag is wonderful. It represents our history and our place in the world and I think it should stay. If we ever have a referendum on changing our flag I will vote to retain our existing flag.
This motion is a nonsense because the decision by police to display the flag is an operational matter. We have all seen how police vehicles are used, as recommended by the protocol department, during royal visits, papal visits or when the Governor attends official functions. If it is intended that the vehicles perform that role all day the police may decide to display the Australian flag or some other decoration on them. On Anzac Day at the Rooty Hill RSL club the police provide an excellent service controlling traffic. They are part of the community march and officers are present for the laying of the wreaths. However, about 1½ hours later they are back on the beat, patrolling and so on.
Mr Brad Hazzard: So they can't fly the flag for the rest of the day?
Mr RICHARD AMERY: That would be great! The honourable member for Wakehurst believes police vehicles should fly the flag for the rest of the day. Picture this: Officers have just left the RSL club, where everybody is inside enjoying breakfast or morning tea, and they are called to respond urgently to an incident. So there they are in their vehicle, flying down the Great Western Highway at 100 miles an hour, with the Australian flag flapping in the wind. How stupid is this motion, which calls upon the Parliament to dictate to police when and where they should display the Australian flag? It is absurd and embarrassing that we should tell the police when they should fly the flag and when they should not.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order—
Mr RICHARD AMERY: I have concluded my comments. The Parliamentary Secretary is 100 per cent correct: Let the police decide when they should fly the Australian flag and when it is not appropriate to do so.
Mr Brad Hazzard: I place on record the fact that I rather like the idea of flags being displayed on police vehicles on Australia Day, Remembrance Day and Anzac Day. If the police have an operational reason not to use them it should be left to their discretion.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! That is not a valid point of order. The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat.
Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove) [12.43 p.m.]: It is with great pleasure that I stand shoulder to shoulder with my Coalition colleagues in supporting the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition. The motion supports the police and promotes the flying of the Australian flag on New South Wales police vehicles on Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. It says a lot about the loathing that members of the Labor Party have for themselves and for the nation as a whole that they have rejected the simple and patriotic suggestion of flying small Australian flags on police cars on national days. Despite the fact that, like the former Premier, the current Premier always has the Australian flag in the background when conducting his press conferences from Governor Macquarie Tower—in a blatant and shameless attempt to copy John Howard—this Government remains anti the flag, anti the Australian Constitution and anti anything that it perceives as being a threat to its ideology, in which the Australian people do not feature, much less the wellbeing and reputation of the New South Wales police force.
What this Government fails to realise—and it is its fault—is that our police force is under siege. It is denied funds and resources and it is stretched to the limit. Here and now we have a chance not only to empower our national symbols but to make it clear that being Australian goes hand in hand with justice and the rule of law. We have an opportunity to remind those who would defy or attack the character of those selfless, hardworking men and women that the police are a much loved and respected part of our Australian culture. Just over 10 years ago, before the Howard Government came to power federally, the flag was under attack. Second-rate mediocrities on the Left and self-proclaimed "intellectuals" fed the public the line that the Australian flag was not "our flag" and was not an appropriate symbol for our nation. It was all part of a scheme by many—including, prominently, the so-called "Australian" Labor Party—to rubbish and break down our national identity and democracy by attacking first the symbols and then the Constitution of Australia.
But, despite their pontifications, the Australian flag has not been held in such high esteem since the Second World War—largely thanks to the proud and progressive policies of the Federal Government that remind Australians of the importance of their flag. It is a much-loved symbol of our nation and features prominently at national events, sporting events—
Mr Alan Ashton: Point of order: The honourable member for Lane Cove is clearly not debating the substantive motion before the House, which calls on Parliament to force police to fly the Australian flag on their vehicles on three days of the year. The honourable member is trying to whip up debate about the flag, the Australian Labor Party, referendums and the monarchy.
Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS: It is about that.
Mr Alan Ashton: No, it is not. Debate should be limited to the substance of the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition. Members are limited as to how much they can stray from debating the motion before the House. I ask you to draw the honourable member for Lane Cove back to the terms of the motion.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I ask the honourable member for Lane Cove to restrict his remarks to the motion before the House.
Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS: The Australian flag is a much-loved symbol of our nation, and features prominently at national events, sporting events and around the world wherever our armed forces fight for freedom and democracy. It is also a symbol of our stable society and the rule of law. But the Labor Government quietly quashes this idea in the same way as it attacks or covers up any attempt to use the symbols of State to reinforce symbols of authority—in this case, the police—and it does so without any reference to the people of New South Wales.
The Government needs to wake up. We have all seen the Australian flag flying at prominent national events. We saw last Anzac Day the many flags carried by spectators and we have seen the number of flags that fly on Australia Day. What is wrong with showing pride in our flag? What is wrong with paying our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in war by flying the Australian flag from police cars on Anzac Day? We must not forget that the police are an integral and much-loved part of Anzac Day. Do not forget either that many former members of the military have entered the police force to continue to serve their community and their nation. Year after year, I see police men and women helping elderly Diggers walk in the parade. That engenders a wonderful sense of community and shared values that would be encapsulated and rightly symbolised by the flying of the Australian flag from police cars on Anzac Day.
Police who fly the flag on Anzac Day would be showing their respect for the Diggers. The police, who do their duty protecting law and order, would be showing solidarity with those who did their duty in defence of freedom and justice. Do any members on the Government benches have the gumption to stand up in support of the police, to stand up in support of the Australian people, to defy their party theology and to show that they have not only backbone but pride in our nation and in the police force that protects our streets? It is time the Government fell into line with the people of New South Wales, got behind the police force and gave them some credit. It is time to get behind our diggers and all those who exalt our national symbols.
Mr GERARD MARTIN (Bathurst) [12.48 p.m.]: I speak for all my colleagues on this side of the House when I say that we have the greatest respect for the Australian flag and all the protocols that go with it. As Labor members have said, this is a most dishonest motion from the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister for Police dealt with this matter long ago: New South Wales police have the operational discretion to decide when and where it is appropriate to display the Australian flag. I do not know whether the honourable member for Lane Cove drew from his experiences thumping out dispatches on the old Remington typewriter in Bougainville some years ago. I do not know whether those dispatches carried images of the Australian flag.
The Government has the greatest respect for protocols surrounding the displaying of both the Australian flag and our New South Wales flag, which is very similar to our national flag. I think the honourable member for Hawkesbury and the honourable member for Lane Cove would like us to fly the Union Jack instead of the Australian flag. The honourable member for Lane Cove would certainly like to see that. I give credit to the honourable member for Lane Cove for his passion in regard to research, with all those little minions of typists. I note he read every word he said. He said nothing from the heart. The honourable member for Mount Druitt and the other Government members who contributed to the debate spoke from their heart, as we do when we talk about the Australian flag. There is a sinister side to this motion: it is part of the Leader of the Opposition's racist little agenda.
Mr Anthony Roberts: Point of order: What have you got against the Diggers? What have you got against supporting the blokes on Anzac Day?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for Lane Cove must direct his remarks to me. What is the point of order?
Mr Anthony Roberts: What has the honourable member for Bathurst got against Diggers and against police supporting them on Anzac Day?
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! That is not a point of order. It is a question.
[Interruption]
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I ask the honourable member for Bathurst to take care with his language.
Mr GERARD MARTIN: I will. I will respect that ruling. I am not here to boast about my record as a local member on Anzac Day and recently at the Long Tan celebration at Bathurst, at which I was one of the guest speakers. I attend as many Anzac Day services in my electorate as possible, from Rockley to Tarana to Sodwalls to Bathurst and to Lithgow. I show the greatest reverence. The Leader of the Opposition should not tell us that we do not respect the Diggers. This motion is not about that; it is about someone on the other side of the House making a cheap use of the Australian flag to try to politically embarrass people.
The Government is dedicated to the Australian flag, but it will not play cheap racist games like the Leader of the Opposition. He should crawl in the gutter with his racist agenda and see how he ends up. He should not prostitute the Australian flag. This motion has nothing to do with flying flags on certain days; it is just the Leader of the Opposition throwing it in there for the rednecks. This Government wholeheartedly supports the Australian flag. The Minister has put on record that if Ken Moroney and his troops want to fly the Australian flag operationally they can. This is another grubby effort from the Coalition.
Mr PETER DEBNAM (Vaucluse—Leader of the Opposition) [12.52 p.m.], in reply: The honourable member for Bathurst should not leave the Chamber; he should stay here. The honourable member for Bathurst just called me a racist for proposing to buy Australian flags for New South Wales Police. He has scurried away because he knows that he has not only disgraced himself but he has disgraced this Parliament. The honourable member for Bathurst has just returned to the Chamber.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for Bathurst will come to order.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Let us understand what the Australian Labor Party is all about. Let us understand political correctness and those screaming left-wingers. Four minutes ago the honourable member for Bathurst said that because I want to use taxpayers' funds to buy Australian flags for police I am a racist. He is an absolute disgrace. I know the honourable member for East Hills does not like the Australian flag. I know the Minister for Police does not like the Australian flag.
Mr Alan Ashton: Point of order: I have already stated that I fully support the Australian flag. My father and grandfather fought under the Australian flag. I have a flag in my office and another one on the front window of my office. The Leader of the Opposition should not say that I do not support the Australian flag. He is trying to belittle the Australian flag for a cheap attempt to get votes. He thinks so many people take orders from people such as Alan Jones, Lyenko Urbanchich and David Clarke.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! The honourable member for East Hills has made his point. The Leader of the Opposition may continue.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: The honourable member for East Hills is sitting next to the honourable member for Bathurst, who called me a racist because I want to promote the Australian flag. The Opposition simply asks the Labor Government to buy a couple of thousand small Australian flags and encourage the flying of those flags on police vehicles. For that proposal the honourable member for Bathurst called me a racist. The honourable member for East Hills pretends to embrace the Australian flag. It is clearly still Labor Party policy to change the flag, is it not? It is still on your platform to change the flag? It is. That is why you denigrate me because I want to promote the Australian flag.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I remind the Leader of the Opposition that his remarks should be addressed to the Chair.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: Yes, I am very happy to do that. During the debate one of the members of the Government suggested that the Opposition should say something about its policy on policing, and I agree. I will quickly run through the points that are on my web site, www.peterdebnam.com.au.
Mr Paul McLeay: Point of order: My point of order is relevance. I ask you to draw the Leader of the Opposition back to the leave of the motion.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: I am replying to his points. We will legislate to introduce mandatory life sentences for those convicted of the murder of police. We will reinstate more than 600 police slashed by Labor and especially boost numbers in the highway patrol, public transport and criminal investigation. We will ensure the authorised police strength is a minimum, not an average. We will legislate to officially protect the name "NSW Police Force". We will re-empower police in relation to arrest and search with an urgent reform of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act. We will strengthen police powers in relation to offensive language and conduct with the aim of raising the standards of public decency.
We will establish a high-level working group, including former senior operational police officers, to review current police paperwork requirements with the objective of reducing paperwork by 75 per cent for frontline police. The working group will be required to report its recommendations by 30 June 2007. We will strengthen the graffiti task force and strengthen related penalties and powers of magistrates. We will strengthen the role of the Judicial Commission to make judges and magistrates more accountable to the community.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Marie Andrews): Order! I call Government members to order.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: We will legislate to reduce to one warning and one caution for young offenders to get rid of Labor's unlimited warnings and three cautions. We will change centralised local area commands to locally led, locally based policing. I advise anyone who wants to read through the policing policies that they are on my web site, www.peterdebnam.com.au. Today is simply about whether the Government supports the flag.
Mr Paul McLeay: Point of order: I draw your attention to the use of a prop.
Mr PETER DEBNAM: This is the Australian flag. We suggest we get very small flags for police cars. [Time expired.]
Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.
The House divided.
Ayes, 31
Mr Aplin
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mrs Hancock
Mr Hartcher
Mr Hazzard
Ms Hodgkinson | Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr McTaggart
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle
Mr Richardson
Mr Roberts
Ms Seaton | Mrs Skinner
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R. W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire |
Noes, 51
Ms Allan
Mr Amery
Ms Andrews
Mr Bartlett
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Mr Campbell
Mr Chaytor
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Mr Daley
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Mrs Fardell
Ms Gadiel
Mr Gaudry | Mr Gibson
Mr Greene
Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Lynch
Mr McBride
Mr McLeay
Ms Meagher
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Ms Moore
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Mr Oakeshott
Mr Orkopoulos | Mrs Paluzzano
Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Ms Saliba
Mr Sartor
Mr Scully
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Ms Tebbutt
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon
Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin |
Question resolved in the negative.
Motion negatived.
[Mr Speaker left the chair at 1.05 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]
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