Mr SERCOMBE (3:12 PM) —I move:

That this House notes:

(1) the special relationship between Australia and Turkey, which developed out of mutual respect engendered by the horrific experiences of the First World War;

(2) that Turkey is a modern, secular state with which Australia should further enhance relations;

(3) the importance of Turkey as a trade and investment partner in its own right and as a base for Australian trade efforts in the Middle East and Central Asia;

(4) the significant contribution of Turkish migration to Australia's economic, social and cultural development; and

(5) that Turkish speaking residents of Australia have contributed significantly to the Australian community by their approach to potentially divisive issues that could undermine harmony in our multicultural society.

It is appropriate, for a number of reasons, for a motion such as this to come before the House at this stage. One of the most important reasons is that this year is the 30th anniversary of the arrival of the first Turkish migrants to Australia following on from the signing of the bilateral immigration arrangement between Australia and Turkey in 1967.

Relations between our two countries could not be said to have got off to a promising start earlier this century. According to census material at the turn of the century, there were only 20 Turkish born residents in Australia at that stage. Earlier this century, the first substantial contact between Australia and Turkey occurred during the horrific experiences of the First World War. I think all Australians understand the importance of the Gallipoli campaign in the formation of our national sense of identity but, in addition to that campaign, there were prolonged periods of conflict involving Turkish and Australian forces in opposition to each other in Palestine and Syria. That, of course, meant that the commencement of our relationship was scarcely promising.

Somewhat surprisingly, given the horror, the Gallipoli conflict produced a high degree of mutual respect between the two peoples. That mutual respect is most movingly reflected in the words of the commander of the Turkish forces at Gallipoli, one Mustafa Kemal, who went on to become Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Those words are reflected in the commemorative stone in the Ataturk Memorial Garden near the Australian War Memorial in the following terms:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives . . . you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours . . . You the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears: your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

Those are moving words indeed. The same Ataturk went on to become the father of modern secular Turkey. The concept of Turkey as a secular nation needs to be underlined. While in excess of 90 per cent of the community there are Muslims, the secular institutions of Turkey are fundamental. Ataturk's judicial and cultural reforms, including the introduction of Roman script, very much underpin the modern Turkish state.

Turkey is a nation of some 65 million inhabitants with a GDP of $US167 billion. A country of that size obviously promises great opportunities for a trading nation such as Australia and, whilst there has been some growth in recent times, there is certainly quite a way to go. In 1997 Australia sold $514 million worth of products to Turkey, compared with imports of only $98 million. The great bulk of that trade from Australia was in commodities—coal, iron ore, wheat, skins and hides. There are some interesting new developments, including the awarding of a $120 million contract to an Australian company to supply two, 86-metre, high speed, aluminium, vehicle-passenger ferries to Turkey. That is also indicative of the capacity for growing and more diverse trade. It is pleasing to see that Australian craft will be plying the Bosporus at the end of the 20th century, but fortunately not as they were plying it earlier this century!

Turkey is important not only in its own right but also because of its strategic position for trade and investment activities. Its position not only in relation to the Balkans and the Middle East is worth commenting on; it is also very much closely linked to the Caspian Sea base and to the rapidly emerging Central Asian republics with very strong language and cultural ties to Turkey. Those are very substantial reasons for Australia to be paying particularly close attention to the opportunities that arise there.

In international forums we find a great deal in common as well. In the context of United Nations peacekeeping, for example, Australia and Turkey have both been traditionally strong supporters of and suppliers of forces for those purposes. I understand that the most recent occasion where our forces cooperated was in Somalia.

As I commented at the start of this speech, in 1967 Australia and Turkey entered into a bilateral arrangement in respect of immigration. By the 1996 census some 28,800 Turkish residents of Australia were recorded, with more than 46,000 people speaking Turkish at home. These people have made a very substantial economic, social and cultural contribution to our society.

One of the areas that is well worth commenting on, in terms of that contribution, concerns the matters referred to in clause 5 of the motion; that is, the contribution to the Australian community by the approach that Turkish speaking residents have taken `to potentially divisive issues that could undermine harmony' in our multicultural community. Australia has drawn immense strength over the past 50 years from its immigration program and that program's diversity.

One of the very great achievements of our nation involves the great steps we have taken to build a tolerant, multicultural community where people can contribute towards, have respect for, and continue to enjoy pride in, the cultural heritage of their former homeland. They also have the opportunity to present the heritage of their former homeland to, and share that heritage with, the rest of the Australian community.

But the rights and sensitivities of other Australian citizens of other backgrounds need to be recognised. Whilst one group of Australians can always promote a view strongly and vigorously, that should never be done in a way that stigmatises or seeks to isolate other groups of Australians. I believe that Turkish Australians have generally distinguished themselves by the way they have reacted to debate.

While they could be divisive and could undermine harmony in our multicultural community, Turks have generally acted with great maturity and understanding of the rights of all Australians when issues that they often feel deeply about have been aired in Australia. They have not sought to stigmatise or isolate those who wish the right to present their point of view. Turks have presented their views whilst respecting the rights of other Australians to present theirs. This is as it should be, and we ought to be encouraging the development of a tolerant, cohesive Australian multicultural society. I commend the motion to the House.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Nehl) —Is the motion seconded?

Mr Laurie Ferguson —I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.