Motion on Journalist Peter Greste
24/07/2014
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I will briefly put on the record Dignity for Disability’s support of this motion. Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
I do not doubt that all our colleagues here today would agree with me that this situation is a clear breach of that article, but in my opinion it is also a breach going against human nature. It is human nature to share information, to share ideas and yes, sometimes disagree, and this is how we grow as a society and as nations. So to see a difference of opinion resulting in the imprisonment of a journalist who was simply doing their job is outrageous and very concerning, not only for journalists in the field but for those in our community who need to be aware of world affairs to be able to be involved in their communities and grow through the sharing of information. With those few words, Dignity for Disability certainly stands with Peter Greste and his colleagues and we support the motion.
