Grievance Debate

MEMORIAL SERVICE, MINISTERIAL ATTENDANCE

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:12): This morning, we awoke to the disturbing revelation in The Australian newspaper that minister Rankine and her personal partner had represented the state government at a memorial service for members of a banned terrorist organisation. Today, we had the disturbing addendum to that in question time, with confirmation, after confirming it again on ABC radio this morning, that the minister had done so in the clear knowledge that the association of the three victims was in fact known to her prior to attending that service, so much so that she was concerned about the link and had re-edited her speech for that occasion.

It was not a situation of returning home from a holiday from overseas, following through on a promise to attend a local function, then mistakenly understanding them to have been representing a youth organisation and later finding out that, in fact, it was in respect of a memorial service for three members of a banned terrorist organisation—no, not that at all; in fact, she knew. She had edited her speech accordingly and still progressed to this occasion in the full knowledge that that occurred.

Today we hear the premier say, 'I support the minister in her actions.' Well, he is nailed to the mast because those of us on this side of the house have a very clear understanding about whether we support terrorists or not, whether we in any way engage in the support of those who may be associated with that or to support.

But to compound the felony, to compound the actions of this minister, she has the audacity to stand up today and not only tell us that the three women for whom the memorial service was related to, who were killed during a trip to Paris, were people who had been acting, she says, in a 'lawful manner.' Well, how the hell does she know? How the hell does she know what those three women were doing who were members of a banned terrorist organisation?

Members interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: Let us look to understand that people on this side of the house are very clear: we do not support terrorists. We will not support terrorists and those who line up against them should make the condemnation of those who support them. The victims of terrorists—

The Hon. J.J. Snelling interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the Minister for Health to order.

Ms CHAPMAN: —are the victims of the blind hatred, conduct and acts of those who are terrorists. What about the women and children and other members of family who are victims of the disgusting, grotesque acts of terrorists? I have heard you, Mr Speaker, in this house, recount how important it is that people and governments around the world take up against the conduct of terrorists in this country and ensure that we are at one, together, in ensuring that terrorist activity is condemned and continues to be condemned.

But let's just have a look at what PKK stand for. This is the group that the minister had described on radio again this morning where she made a statement to this organisation, 'But there are places in the world where to be an activist for your people, for your homeland, is to invite death.'

The Hon. J.M. Rankine: That's right.

Ms CHAPMAN: Activists? These are not activists. These are terrorists. These are not people who march in the street for a vote or to stop some decision of government and the planning of their homes, these are terrorists.

Members interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: The government had clear knowledge of this as did the minister.

The SPEAKER: I warn—

Ms CHAPMAN: The PKK, let me say—

The SPEAKER: Would the deputy leader resume her seat. I warn the Minister for Health for the first time.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: If it is indeed a point of order. Minister for Education.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The member for Bragg quotes one sentence from my speech. It would be nice if she followed on with the next one where I say, 'No matter the political differences, violence against opponents or proponents of different policies is not acceptable.' Thank you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I have no idea what the minister for education just said. Please stop the clock so that the deputy leader gets more than a fair shake on this speech. I would give her an extension of time, and I ask the minister for education what it was she was saying.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, sir. I was saying that the member for Bragg quotes one sentence in the speech that I gave, but, in fact, the following sentence actually said, 'No matter the political differences, violence is not acceptable.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister for education is out of order. I call her to order and I warn her for the first time for what was not a point of order, and I return to the deputy leader of the opposition who I hope has ample time to make all the points she wishes to make.

Ms CHAPMAN: As is well known, Mr Speaker, the PKK—which has a number of aliases including the Kurdistan Labour Party—is recorded on a list of terrorist organisations on our own national security website of the Australian government. The Attorney-General has to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation is directly or indirectly engaged in preparing, planning or assisting or fostering during a terrorist act. It is on the list, as is well known to the minister, and if she or anyone in her office had read it, which I am sure they have by now, it would confirm that this is a organisation which has been effective in multiple acts of cruelty and terrorist acts against people across the world, including by women of that organisation, and indeed is significantly financially resourced by drug-trafficking, and is rife in Europe.

For the minister to say she is satisfied, that somehow or other she has a crystal ball that they were there doing some lawful act, I think is not only grossly ignorant, but also irresponsible to make that statement and to actually continue. Instead of coming in here and saying to the people of South Australia, 'Look, I made an error of judgement. I came back, I hadn't realised that this was the memorial service for terrorists, for members of a terrorist organisation. I'm sorry about that,' but to trot out post date—

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader, will you be seated. I am going to give you ample time to overcome any interruption you have suffered at the hands of the government.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Sir, the clock has long registered zero.

The SPEAKER: Yes, but the sessional orders give the Speaker discretion.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: As a matter of fact, I am very interested in the Deputy Leader of the Opposition's speech, as I imagine many South Australians will be, and I invite her to continue.

Ms CHAPMAN: This is a terrorist organisation, which is registered in many other countries around the world and which are listed on the public register clearly identifying this. For the minister to come in here today and try to maintain some innocence in attending some local memorial service for three poor women who were murdered in a circumstance of attending some local function is not only a gross act of ignorance and poor judgement by the minister, but she has to go out there and represent members of South Australia's government. It is disgraceful that you would still maintain that that conduct was either acceptable or appropriate. It is a true sign of the failure to recognise the importance of this that you have not come in and apologised to the people of South Australia, and I ask you to do it.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!