Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to welcome to the Speaker's gallery Michael Smith. Michael Smith has been on a journey. He has walked 600 kilometres from Chewton in the Bendigo electorate in central Victoria to this place, to raise and highlight one of his great concerns. Michael has actually drafted a bill. He believes that it is this place and this parliament that should make the decision about whether this country enters into armed conflict and whether we deploy to war; he does not believe that it should be made by one person. In a recent interview with the ABC, Michael said:

I don't think these decisions should be with one person. I think that the more people that are involved in the decision, the better decision we'll get.

These are Michael's views.

We should congratulate and acknowledge anybody with this passion and commitment. To walk 600 kays to come here to raise this issue is a fantastic effort. And I know that the people of Chewton—the people's republic of Chewton—are very proud of Michael's efforts.

What this does is to remind all of us that we have great responsibility in this place, and, when one of our constituents makes this kind of effort, we should take time to discuss this in our party room and in our caucuses to see what more we can do in this area. Congratulations, Michael, on your efforts.