United Nations Anniversary

The Hon. J.S. LEE (21:04): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the United Nations for celebrating its 70^th Anniversary in 2015;

2. Acknowledges the significant work and commitment of the United Nations in global development and respecting the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples and international co-operation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems around the world;

3. Recognises the local South Australian branch, namely United Nations Australian Association-South Australia (UNAA-SA), and the longstanding commitment made by their committee, volunteers and community leaders in bringing global concerns to the forefront of South Australia’s community; and

4. Congratulates the United Nations South Australia Branch for its remarkable efforts in organising many innovative and visible community events to commemorate its 70^th Anniversary in 2015.

It is with great honour that I rise to move this motion today, congratulating the United Nations for celebrating its 70^th anniversary in 2015. I believe it is important for members of parliament and the broader community to acknowledge the significant work and commitment of the United Nations in global development and respecting the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples and international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems around the world.

This motion also recognises the local South Australian branch: United Nations Australian Association, South Australia, and the longstanding commitment made by the committee, volunteers and community leaders in bringing global concerns to the forefront of the South Australian community. I am incredibly delighted that Lidia Moretti, representing the United Nations, is here joining us in the Legislative Council chamber today. She has been very patient: she has been here since 5pm this afternoon. She has been waiting and I am glad that she is joining us and listening to this particular contribution.

Seventy years ago, on 24 October 1945, the United Nations officially came into existence. The United Nations was born of perceived necessity as a means of better arbitrating international conflict and negotiating peace, better than what was provided by the old League of Nations which ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.

The Second World War became the real motivation for the United Nations, Britain and the Soviet Union to begin formulating the original UN declaration signed by 26 nations in January 1942, as a formal act of opposition to Axis powers, Germany, Italy and Japan.

The principles of the United Nations charter were first formulated at a San Francisco conference which convened in April 1945. It was presided over by US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and attended by representatives of 50 nations, including nine continental European states, 21 North, Central and South American republics, seven Middle Eastern states, five British Commonwealth nations, two Soviet Republics, two Eastern Asian nations and three African states.

Two other important objectives described in the charter were respecting the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples, and international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems around the world. To this day the United Nations is needed more than ever, particularly at this time when the world is faced with multiple crises: be it poverty, disease, discrimination, climate change or terrorism.

Recently we were horrified and saddened about the shocking terrorist attack in Paris. France, the home of freedom, had been assaulted by terrorists. This horrible act of attack was to suppress freedom not just in France but throughout the world. I would like to express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the people of France and I am sure all of us here, honourable members in parliament and everyone in Australia are sending our kind thoughts and prayers to Paris and France at this terrible time. Our solidarity is with the people of France. The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull said:

Freedom stands up for itself, stands up for its values in the face of terrorism.

In France, and Australia, all around the world, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of France and with all free peoples in the battle against terrorism.

With so many conflicts happening around the world today, the United Nations is needed more than ever. Millions of global civilians continue to suffer the horrible acts of terrorism, disgraceful exploitation through labour, human trafficking, sexual slavery, or even in unsafe working conditions in mines, factories and fields.

The founding of the United Nations was a solemn pledge to end such assaults on human dignity, and led the way to a better future. The General Secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon stated in his 2014 United Nations Day speech:

Governments and individuals are needed to work in common cause for the common good.

That is a statement which our society should embrace if we aspire to live in a better world. Like many, I am proud of Australia's involvement in the United Nations. Australia is a founding member of the United Nations and has consistently supported the United Nations' role in world affairs since that time. Australia was an active participant at the 1945 San Francisco conference, in which a UN charter was negotiated. Australia regards the United Nations as an essential forum through which to influence world affairs, promote a stable international framework, defend Australia's security, pursue trade and economic interests, and promote Australian values.

Australia also provides significant financial support to the UN. The UN system is funded by member state dues and voluntary contributions, and through donations from the private sector, other national and multilateral agencies and individuals. Australia as a country is the 13^th largest contributor to the UN regular budget and to the funding of the UN peacekeeping operations.

The year 2015 marks the 70^th anniversary of the United Nations. I would like to put some of its achievements on the public record. There are 10 broad categories. In the area of maintaining peace and security, the UN deploys a total of 42 peacekeeping forces and observer missions. As of September 1996, the United Nations has been able to restore calm, which opens avenues for the negotiating process to go forward, while saving millions of lives.

In making peace, since 1945 the UN has been credited with negotiating 172 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflict. In promoting democracy, the UN has enabled people in over 45 countries to participate in free and fair elections. In promoting development, the UN system has devoted more attention and resources to the promotion of the development of human skills and potential than any other external assistance effort.

In promoting human rights, since adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the United Nations has helped enact dozens of comprehensive agreements on political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. In protecting the environment, the Earth Summit, the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, resulted in treaties on biodiversity and climate change, and all countries adopted Agenda 21, a blueprint to promote sustainable development.

In strengthening international law, over 300 international treaties on topics as varied as human rights conventions and agreements on the use of outer space and seabeds have been adopted. In alleviating chronic hunger and rural poverty in developing countries, the International Fund for Agricultural Development has developed a system of providing credit, often in very small loans, for the poorest and most marginalised groups that has benefited over 230 million people in nearly 100 developing countries.

In promoting women's rights, a long-term objective of the United Nations has been to improve the lives of women and to empower women to have greater control over their lives. The UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women have supported programs and projects to improve the quality of life for women in over 100 countries.

In providing safe drinking water, UN agencies have worked to make safe drinking water available to 1.3 billion people in rural areas during the last decade. With that amount of work, the magnitude of delivery of services the UN has undertaken for over 70 years, it is no wonder that the United Nations has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize five times and it is to be congratulated for all its efforts.

Throughout Australia there are so many people and volunteers committed to advancing the work of the United Nations, including members of the United Nations Association of Australia, the South Australian branch. They are committed to building a strong, credible and effective United Nations. I would like to put on the public record my sincere thanks to the very active South Australian branch, particularly to President John Crawford and the Vice President, Lidia Moretti, for all their wonderful work. Lidia is one of those incredible pocket rockets who continues to involve me and other members of parliament in her innovative UN projects.

Before Lidia came into my life I would never have thought that I would be walking a coloured sheep in the centre of the city of Adelaide, right in Victoria Square. I did that! If I had never met Lydia I would never have thought that I could walk on water. I will tell you a little bit more. They are just some of the innovative projects, sometimes crazy, but they were certainly innovative and memorable. These art installations were done in conjunction with the surrealist artist, Andrew Baines, together with the United Nations of South Australia.

Last year was the Year of International Family Farming for the United Nations. So what did the South Australian branch of the United Nations come up with? They thought it would be really good if we had about 20 celebrities of South Australia, dressed in black suits wearing a blue tie (United Nations colour), walking with 20 coloured sheep right in the centre of Victoria Square. It was very well received. Local media and international media broadcast the YouTube and it went viral.

The emphasis on the family farm goes much wider than just recognising that farming has historically been a family business, yet more significantly we understand that family farming can go on for generations, and the idea of working with the corporate sector, working with family farming, really painted a picture for the United Nations in sustainable farming in rural areas across the world. It was a wonderful concept initiative.

Some of the business and community leaders who walked the sheep included a former premier, Lynn Arnold, the member for Adelaide (Rachel Sanderson), Peter Goers, mayor Gary Johanson, and Kris Lloyd from CheeseFest. They were all willing participants. It would have been easier to walk dogs. Mayor Gary Johanson was saying to me, 'My goodness, this sheep is really difficult'. He kept saying that to me on that day.

In celebrating the 70^th anniversary there was another fascinating art installation, and that was done at Henley Beach. I woke up on a very cold morning, I was one of the participants and I had to dress in my Chinese traditional costumes, standing on a clear plastic box, freezing cold water, together with the Hon. Hieu van Le, our Governor of South Australia, and other dignitaries, such as the Hon. Chris Kourakis, the Chief Justice of South Australia; Grace Portolesi, representing SAMEAC; Angela Kenneally, the Mayor of Charles Sturt; Laura Adzanku, African Women's Federation; Joe Scalzi, representing the Italian Carabinieri Association; Jock Zonfrillo, native food chief, Orana; Sarika Young, representing the Indian community; Sonia Feldhoff, the ABC afternoon presenter—we were all adorned in the costumes that represent us.

With the backdrop of the ocean, when the water just kept hitting the boxes, we felt like we were part of a United Nations combining the strength of unity in diversity. We are trying to overcome the tides, as almost represented in the form of adversity and conflict, but we are fighting that by uniting together, and that represents the strength of multiculturalism in South Australia and also symbolises the work of the United Nations. I think that was a wonderful art installation, once again by Andrew Baines working together with Lidia Moretti for the United Nations.

A painting was done of the 10 personalities, and this particular painting currently hangs in Government House. It was well received by the Governor of South Australia. Honourable members, you may have received some envelopes from the United Nations recently. They had a picture of 10 different people in costumes printed on the envelope that was in your pigeonhole. That was delivered by the United Nations as a gift to celebrate the 70-year anniversary.

In my matters of interest speech on 28 October, I spoke on another installation by the United Nations, which was the peace bottle. I think I started singing Message in a Bottle and then, that very afternoon, I think another honourable member actually sang a song. That particular peace bottle installation was done in conjunction with the 175-year anniversary of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. Mayor Gary Johanson highlighted that the council has one of the highest concentrations of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, so the peace bottle was very interesting and also a very meaningful installation.

Christopher Woodthorpe, the director of the United Nations Information Centre in Canberra, was a special guest. The Hon. Robert Hill, former senator and ambassador to the United Nations was also there for the peace bottle installation. The idea of the peace bottle was conceived, again, by the talented artist Andrew Baines to convey peace messages from Australia to the world. The peace bottle was sky blue in colour, matching the logo colour of the United Nations, measured nearly two metres in height and became the centrepiece of the particular installation.

It was sent to the United Nations in New York to mark the 70^th anniversary of the world organisation. It also educates our youth and community leaders on global affairs, allowing us as individuals to realise how extremely lucky we are to live in a peaceful, harmonious society, and that there are opportunities for us to be involved and make a change in someone else's life who may be less fortunate.

Other events held by the SA branch of the UN included World Humanitarian Day. It celebrated UN peacekeepers day and also World Peace Day. For all the work that it does, I do not know how it can maximise the 24 hours in its day, but it has done very well, and Lidia and the UN of SA branch are to be congratulated. Happy 70^th anniversary! Keep up the great work. With those few words, once again, congratulations to the United Nations for celebrating its 70^th anniversary and for all the marvellous work it does. I commend the motion to the chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. S.G. Wade.