Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans
M.B.,B.S., F.R.C.S. (Eng.), M.Appl.Sci (OHS), M.L.C.,
Leader Australian Democrats New South Wales, Parliament
A Department of Defence prepares for war. A Department of Foreign
Affairs does not look at aid nor at prevention of international harmony
or discord. Great wars are studied in detail, but great peaces and the
negotiation of them gets far less attention.
Modern economics theories of free trade should make wars less likely
but currently some nations are still imposing economic sanctions and
trade restrictions on others. This has severe consequences for the wellbeing of citizens in these countries
and makes extremism more likely.
A Department of peace, which looked at how peace could be achieved, could change the approach.
Policies that lessened the chance of war could be advocated, with benefits in foreign policy and total well
being of all nations.
Currently the West talks about Freedom and democracy, but does little to practice it. It often favours
dictators who make economic deals against their citizens’ interests and in return are propped up by
Western powers.
Western Middle East policy has been to keep the Arab States divided so that Western Companies can
extract their oil. Freedom and even unity of the Arab states need not lead to war, as they will still want to
sell their oil for money.
Australia has historically had a fear of being a small western country in Asia. But this fear is not entirely
rational, and is less in the new generation. Many countries have more powerful neighbours, but are not
threatened. In a globalised world, racial differences need not lead to conflict. Injustice will.
Australia has a sad history of going into wars to please dominant world powers when our own interests are
minimally involved. Our current Prime Minister put us into the Iraq war without even consulting the
Parliament. He knew that he did not have the numbers in the opinion polls. 75% of the population did not
want the war and he probably did not have the numbers in the Senate either.
If there were more of a culture of peace, he would not have dared to do this.
Australia has many war memorials, but few peace memorials. We talk about wars, but not long periods of
peace. Australia has a proud record at the UN, in its early founding, and in defending human rights, and
as peacekeepers in many lands. We can do this because one of our unpraised achievements is that we
have accepted a greater percentage of our population as migrants than any country and we have done this
without racist strife. There is a serious understanding in Australia that people have different cultures and if
you go to another land, you must expect them to be different and adjust accordingly. Not all peoples
manage this simple concept as well as we. But you would not know any of this from our current foreign
policy. Our proud history of tolerance and human rights is being undermined and we need to change from
the foolish path of our present government and be drawn again into the concepts of peace and human
dignity that are here at this forum.
I can speak for all Australians when I say that we want peace and the concept of ‘fair go’, which is an
Australian expression for equal opportunity and a reasonable chance of a good life. We are with you in
your launch and we live for the day that we too have a Department of Peace, and a World at Peace.
Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MLC
NSW Parliamentary Leader
Australian Democrats
ph: 02 9230-2303
fax: 02 9230-2866
email: ace.mlc@parliament.nsw.gov.au
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