Mr HAASE (9:49 AM) —I rise this morning to bring attention to the appalling behaviour that took place in the streets of Sydney yesterday—behaviour, I might add, that is being encouraged by far too many members of the opposition. I am absolutely disgusted that we have such noises made about how, on the one hand, we ought to be supporting the right to demonstrate and, on the other, being appalled at the idea of war, disruption and violence; yet actions by those opposite encourage demonstrations on the street and unlawful acts carried out by ill-informed minors, encouraged by adults.

It is almost treasonous that some members opposite would encourage our youth, our future, to go out there and break the law, rise up against law and order, and denigrate our armed forces that go overseas to do their jobs. They create a sense of shame in our Defence Force personnel. It is disastrous for our future as a nation. Everyone I speak to deplores exposing minors to violent acts. Yet schoolchildren are being encouraged to give up their learning process—a process that will equip them for tomorrow—and instead go out onto the streets and take part in collective thuggery. It is a disgusting situation which does nothing for the future of this nation. What example is being set for the youth—the leaders of tomorrow—and how few real leaders are we going to get if they are encouraged to become rabble who will mindlessly rise up against law and order?

It is no coincidence that these people are encouraging such performance. Such performance and use of minors to push one's political will is the sort of stuff that we expect to see in countries which are dominated by a totalitarian government. It is appalling. More Australians ought to be going public and deploring this sort of behaviour and the encouragement that is so frequently given to this sort of behaviour by members opposite. I hear time and time again people standing up and saying that, if children want to march, it is their right. It is their right in a democratic country, but I wonder whether such advice given to ill-informed minors creates a future where this democracy will be maintained.