Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to the organisers of the newly formed Australian offshoot of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, HART. This organisation was launched at a dinner held last Saturday at Barker College in my electorate of Bradfield. The dinner was addressed by the quite remarkable Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, a member of the British House of Lords and a longstanding champion of oppressed peoples, who inspired all of us present with her remarkable stories of courage and of advocacy. She spoke of the four As: advocacy, aid, authenticity and accountability.

I congratulate the Australian organising committee, particularly Dr Martin Panter, an Australian doctor who has been doing voluntary work in Burma for many years assisting those who are oppressed by the terrible regime in that country.

I also congratulate St Swithuns Anglican Church, Pymble, including Rector Roger Chilton, for their support of HART through administrative assistance and through important moral support. The work of the Australasian branch of HART will be focused initially in Burma and East Timor, where the need is great and where some very brave people are doing outstanding work to help those who very much need help. I congratulate them and all involved in the formation of HART in Australia.