The failure of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beazley, at
the end of Question Time today to either rebuke or support the inflammatory
and irresponsible remarks of Senator Nick Bolkus is a dismal failure
of his leadership.
Senator Bolkus' remarks attacking police and security service action
to remove illegal items and a fire from the Parliamentary precincts
were totally untrue and deeply offensive to Australian Federal Police
and Australian Protective Service officers carrying out their duties.
Mr Beazley's refusal to rebuke Senator Bolkus was pathetic.
He compounded this weakness by responding to my comments with a welter
of irrelevancies unrelated to the issue I had raised.
The remarks of Senator Bolkus were calculated to inflame division
within the community, not promote the cause of reconciliation.
11 February 1999