LNP member for McMillan, Russell Broadbent, made this fantastic speech in Parliament last May. I apologise to Mr, Broadbent for not posting this sooner (I have only just read it), and I hope that everyone will read it today in the hope we might inspire his colleagues to act. 

“My beautiful father, Benjamin, often talked about two things: to give someone a fair go and to put yourself in the shoes of the other person. There has been quite a deal of discussion around the parliament in recent weeks about the rule of law and the importance of the individual under that law having their day in court. We as a nation restate that principle at every citizenship ceremony. Why, then, would we take a pregnant woman from her home without warning, who has been living in the community for more than a year with her two boys, and detain her indefinitely? Well, she has an adverse assessment from ASIO. This is lawful. The parliament has legislated accordingly. She has no right of appeal. She was not told of the basis for the adverse finding and, to the public’s knowledge, is not being held for removal. That would be, and is, a reason for detention.

This nation of the great south land has always held to the right of the individual to have their day in court. The colour of your skin, the mode of arrival, your life’s background, are irrelevant to the right to a fair go. The Australian parliament should now resolve that no person can be held in indefinite detention without the right of appeal and the full knowledge of the basis of the adverse assessment from the authorities. It is not whether ASIO is right or wrong. It is about the character of this nation.

Tony Abbott tells me that former Prime Minister John Howard would say, ‘Every day in politics is a test of character.’ I put to you, Deputy Speaker: this is a new day. I live in hope that we will not fail this test of character. Protection of our freedom and the rule of law demands we choose the right over the expedient.”