Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note the remarks of the member for Greenway and I hope that she reproaches and censures the Minister for Health and Ageing, whose cheap jibe this afternoon—‘Are there any Australians left in the Australian Labor Party?’—makes it quite clear that he does not regard people of Sudanese background as genuine Australians, regardless of whether they are Australian citizens or not.

Former Labor leader and Minister for External Affairs Dr Herbert Vere Evatt is quite rightly acknowledged as one of the creators of the United Nations. He became the President of the UN General Assembly. His tireless efforts led to the adoption of the UN Charter, containing provisions for the poor, the weak and the oppressed—provisions never envisaged by the big powers. Doc Evatt’s humanitarianism did Australia proud on the international stage. I wonder what he, as a champion of human rights, would have thought of an invitation issued under the auspices of senior Victorian Liberals which has come into my possession. Mr Speaker, let me quote from this invite:

Alan and Tony are pleased to invite you to the ...

United Nations Beer and BBQ Summit on Global Hunger

(Meat, beer, wine, champagne provided)

with Guest Speaker

Secretary General Kofi Annan

Under that there is this quote:

“Some 840 million people in the world suffer from chronic hunger. We need to do far better if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half, by the year 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. We are starting with you. You can make a difference!”

Then there is:

Think Global. Act Local!!!

The RSVPs on this invitation are to Mr Tony Barry, the deputy state director of the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party of Australia, and Mr Alan Anderson, an adviser to Attorney-General Philip Ruddock. This event was simply a grog-on for Liberals. No funds were raised for the world’s hungry and dying. They misused the United Nations logo and insulted Kofi Annan. It is an absolute disgrace and shows the type of out-of-touch arrogance which sets in after 10 years in government. This is in extraordinarily poor taste. It mocks the poor and hungry and international efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty. One wonders what the Treasurer’s brother, Tim Costello, who does such a great job raising awareness and fostering compassion about these issues, would make of this Liberal Party boorishness. Those involved should apologise to the United Nations and make a suitable donation to an appropriate UN body such as UNICEF.

This week we are seeing how good the Liberals are at parties celebrating their 10 years in power. You have to wonder how many Liberals went to this particular Liberal bash. We have it on good authority that Treasurer Peter Costello’s chief of staff attended, as did a host of other senior staffers. Were there any MPs in attendance? This is something the Liberal Party ought to come clean on. With the evidence coming out on AWB and the government’s contempt for ethical international relations, you can understand perhaps why they do not like the United Nations. But it is unacceptable to hold the UN and Kofi Annan in contempt and it is even more unacceptable to mock the poor and hungry. That really is beyond the pale. This invitation reveals to the community the true colours of the Liberal Party. This invitation is little better than Marie Antoinette saying, ‘Let them eat cake.’