Senator BROWN (2:22 PM) —My question is addressed to Senator Hill, representing the Prime Minister. Does the government support the right of peaceful protest at the World Economic Forum in Melbourne next week? Does the government support the positive aims of the S-11 protesters, which are:

Does the government support global democracy—that is, one person, one vote, one value?

Senator HILL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —Of course we support peaceful protests. That is a legitimate part of our democracy. The concern in relation to this grouping that Senator Brown seems to be endorsing is that it has been advocating non-peaceful protest—and that is, of course, something we abhor. It is not the Australian way. I would suggest to Senator Brown that, if he has any influence over this grouping, he use that influence to ensure that any political protest they wish to engage in in Melbourne next week is in accordance with the usual standard of Australian protests, and that is to make it with enthusiasm but make it without violence.

Senator BROWN —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I will be supporting the protesters and I will be supporting absolutely that that protest be totally peaceful. I ask the minister if he would go on to answer my final question: does he support the aims of S-11, which are to put forward the global movement towards environmental sustainability, fairness and genuine democracy? Does the government support global democracy—one person, one vote, one value—and can the government give a guarantee that it will not bring out the armed forces at any time during this process and that there are not contingency plans in place for such a call-out?

Senator HILL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —In view of the suggestions across the Internet that, as I understand it, this group may well engage in violent protest—and, in that instance, I am sorry to hear that Senator Brown associates himself with them—I presume police forces have contingency plans to look after the issue. As I said, we support the right of non-violent protest and we support protest that does not damage the person or property and that respects the right of individuals to entry of buildings—I say this for Senator Brown's benefit—but subject to that, of course, we support the building of democracy across the globe. We have strong credentials in that regard, and we also support both ecological and economic sustainability.