Senator SPINDLER —I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

Senator SPINDLER —Following the Senate's passing of the motion to establish a casino inquiry, Premier Kennett is reported to have said this afternoon at a function at the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce:

I would suggest that Senator Spindler, who started his young life as a member of the Hitler Youth, is now going to complete his public performance in very much the same way.

Mr Kennett's case cannot be very good if he has to resort to name calling and character assassination in an attempt to avoid accountability.

The facts are that I was seven years old when the war started and 12 years old when the war ended, that my parents were Germans and that all German girls and boys were automatically enrolled in the youth division of the Hitler Youth at the age of 10. We had no choice. My experience during those years has made me a lifelong peace activist and anti-racist and a strong opponent of totalitarian regimes. My record on these issues is on public view.

Similar attacks were made in 1990 when I stood as a candidate for the Senate. I believe they actually got me votes because the community saw how sleazy those attacks were. I believe Mr Kennett's words will backfire on him in a similar way. I believe that Australians who suffered similar experiences as children in the European war zone will be deeply distressed by Mr Kennett's insensitive attack.