Ultra-right wing MP Charlie Lynn slurs multiculturalism with offensive ANZAC motion
MEDIA RELEASE - 29 March 2012
The Greens NSW MPs Jeremy Buckingham and Cate Faehrmann have today condemned Liberal Legislative Council member Charlie Lynn for a motion he has put before the Upper House which accuses unnamed sections to the ‘multicultural community’ as seeking to use ANZAC day to be divisive.
Point 4 of Lynn’s motion states: “4. That this House notes that it is offensive that sections of the multicultural community in Australia would seek to use this significant commemorative period as a point of division in our free society.“
Mr Lynn refused to withdraw the motion when asked in Question Time today, despite Premier Barry O’Farrell previously commenting:
“As someone who in this city mixes with many community groups, I’ve never once heard anybody criticise the commemoration of ANZAC Day”. [LISTEN HERE]
Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said: “Charlie Lynn has dishonoured the legacy of the many Australian’s from diverse ethnic background who served, fought and died for our young country.”
“As a stone mason I carved the names for the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park London, of 23,000 different cities, towns and villages representing the birth places of all those men and women who served their country in World War I and World War II.
“Many of these birth places are Australian, but many others are from around the world. Men and women from Beirut, Rangoon, Canton, Moscow, Baghdad, Berlin, Cairo, Tripoli, Napoli, Athens, Krakow, Delhi, Saigon, Santiago, Java, Timor, San Francisco, Mexico City, Istanbul, and many others,” said Mr Buckingham.
Cate Faehrmann, Greens spokesperson on Multiculturalism said: “Charlie Lynn is being deliberately divisive with a motion that casts aspersions and slurs ‘multicultural communities’ without any substantiation or basis in fact.
“Barry O’Farrell must pull Mr Lynn into line and demand that Mr Lynn withdraw this offensive motion and apologise.
“Australia has a long multicultural history, including within our armed forces. It’s a cowardly act for Charlie Lynn to use the privilege of Parliament to seek to create division in the community with a motion that makes unsubstantiated allegations.,” she said.
Towns featured on the London Australian War Memorial are searchable here:
Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
Legislative Council Notice Paper No. 72—Wednesday 28 March 2012
3926
587. Mr Lynn to move—
1. That this House acknowledges:
(a) that the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25
April 1915 was the baptism of our nation and the beginning of our proud ANZAC
tradition,
(b) that ANZAC Day was proclaimed as a national day of remembrance to pay tribute to the
sacrifice of Australians killed in battle during World War 1, and
(c) that ANZAC Day is now the national day of remembrance for all Australians killed on
active service in defence of freedom.
2. That this House supports the initiatives of veteran communities throughout the State of New
South Wales to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC in their local communities.
3. That this House calls on the Gillard Labor Government to:
(a) seek advice from the Returned Services League of Australian to gain an appreciation of
the difference between a commemoration and a celebration when referring to military
remembrance services,
(b) not allocate any further funding towards market research to find out what Australians
think about ANZAC and how they would like to commemorate its centenary.
4. That this House notes that it is offensive that sections of the multicultural community in
Australia would seek to use this significant commemorative period as a point of division in our
free society.
(Notice given 27 March 2012—expires Notice Paper No. 91)