BY JAMES VASSILOPOULOS
CANBERRA — In a phone interview with Green Left Weekly on October 8, federal Labor MP Harry Quick, known for his strong opposition to the Iraq war, indicated he was thinking of wearing a white armband to protest the US President George Bush's address to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate during his 24-hour visit to Canberra on October 23.
Quick said 15 other MPs were interested in doing this. I suggested that perhaps he might also like to turn his back on Bush. He said this was a good idea.
Later that afternoon, I saw media reports that Quick was going to wear a white armband, and stand up and turn his back on Bush when he addressed the joint parliamentary sitting.
Quick's announcement helped focus media attention on the extra-parliamentary protest being planned in Canberra during Bush's visit. In a media release, Quick said: "There's going to be a massive anti-war protest out the front [of Parliament House] and I'm going to be speaking at that, too."
Quick then found himself in trouble with ALP federal Simon Crean. According to ABC Radio's PM program, Crean welcomed Bush's visit and said Bush should be accorded the respect shown to Australian prime ministers when they've addressed the US Congress.
Why should opponents of the illegal Iraq war, in which at least 8000 Iraqi civilians were killed by US bombs, show any respect for a war criminal and mass murderer like Bush?
Under pressure from Crean, Quick retreated from his plan to turn his back on Bush. However, he still intends to wear a white armband as a sign of protest.
The so-called left faction in the ALP refused to support Quick's stand. Anthony Albanese described Quick's plans as "more suited to student politics". Deputy ALP leader Jenny Macklin, who is also in the ALP "left" faction, said all heads of state must be treated with respect.
While Greens senator Bob Brown has decided not to turn his back on Bush, he was still considering how to publicly register a protest.
A large opportunity has been lost. MPs turning their backs on Bush would have sent a strong message that they disagree with Bush's criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq. This would have helped build the October 23 mass rally outside Parliament House, which will begin at 9 am, one hour before Bush is due to address the parliament.
The rally, which is being organised by the ACT Network Opposing War, has been endorsed by UnionsACT and buses have been organised to bring protesters from Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle.
Anti-Bush protest rallies are also being held in most capital cities at 5pm on October 22, the day Bush is expected to arrive in Australia. For details of the rally in your city see the listing in the Activist Calendar.
From Green Left Weekly, October 15, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.