Andrew Theophanous.
Dr Andrew Theophanous talks about rights and expressing views in Australia,
1995
16 July 2002
Interview for Making Multicultural Australia, 1995
mov (Quicktime);
--
38 secs
DR ANDREW THEOPHANOUS
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, 1993-96, Member of the House of Representatives, 1980 -
There are two points: people from different lands are people who have the right in Australia to make their views known on foreign policy. If you’re of Timorese background, you’ve got the right to have a view on East Timor, just as all other Australians, and many other, most other Australians have a view on East Timor. So are we to say that because you’re from Timorese background, you shouldn’t have a view on East Timor? Is that what we’re to say? I don’t think that's right. But I think there is a difference between having a view and expressing that view as forcefully as possible, and (with) so-called undue influence, or so-called forcing the government to make a decision.
Interview for Making Multicultural Australia, 1995.
Visit the multicultural Library for other documents, video, audio and images.