Jeannie Ferris (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Ian Macdonald and Senator Alan Ferguson, I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

commends the people of Hungary as they mark the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which set the stage for the ultimate collapse of communism in 1989 throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, and 2 years later in the Soviet Union itself;

(b)

expresses condolences to the people of Hungary for those who lost their lives fighting for the cause of Hungarian freedom and independence in 1956, as well as for those individuals executed by the Soviet and Hungarian communist authorities in the 5 years following the revolution, including Prime Minister Imre Nagy;

(c)

welcomes the changes that have taken place in Hungary since 1989, believing that Hungary’s integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, together with similar developments in the neighbouring countries, will ensure peace, stability and understanding among the great peoples of the Carpathian Basin;

(d)

reaffirms the friendship and cooperative relations between the governments of Hungary and Australia and between the Hungarian and Australian people; and

(e)

recognises the contribution of people of Hungarian origin to this nation.

Question agreed to.