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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-26 Daily Xml
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Abiad, Mr H.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment regarding comments made by an Adelaide City councillor.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I have been made aware of a disturbing Facebook post by the former deputy lord mayor, Hassam Abiad, a prominent member of the Liberal Party and a potential candidate, and a prominent member of the federal government's Council for Australian-Arab Relations. Councillor Abiad was in Lebanon recently, where he witnessed the angry protests against the Hezbollah-dominated Lebanese government, which had just resigned. Mr Abiad was clearly moved by the protests and the poor living conditions he witnessed in Lebanon and wrote an impassioned post, which I understand has now been removed, and probably for good reason. I have a copy of what was said and, without going through it here, I seek leave to table a copy of it.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: However, there is one particular remark that is alarming. Referring to the outgoing government and its members, Mr Abiad said:

It is time for all these politicians to meet their makers, if I was them, I would start by asking for forgiveness.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition of 'meet one's maker' is clear: to die. I would accept it might have been sloppy and figurative language from the double degree holding councillor Abiad; however, to suggest that politicians, no matter where they are, should meet their maker, or to die, is extremely provocative, not to mention embarrassing, particularly for the influential commonwealth agency he is paid to represent. We all know how volatile civil unrest can be in some Middle Eastern countries, Hong Kong and South America.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Does he support those comments from a member of the Liberal Party that MPs in Lebanon should meet their maker, or die, because of their autocratic conduct in office?

2. Is he concerned that, as trade minister, comments like this could damage our trade relations with other Arabic nations we do business with?

3. Will he speak to councillor Abiad and the Lord Mayor about those comments and seek an apology?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for his question. I have obviously not seen or read the comments that he claims have been made by councillor Abiad, even though he is now tabling a transcript or a copy of that. Clearly, I don't agree with any comments of politicians 'meeting their maker' made by anybody anywhere in the world. I don't know the context but certainly I have had no commentary from anybody from the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce, which we have a very strong working relationship with. I will seek some further information from the Lord Mayor, as the honourable member has asked me to, and also seek some further clarification about the issue from Mr Abiad.

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