Mark Dreyfus QC MP

Parliament House, Canberra.

Australian Parliament House.

Today I speak as a former shadow minister for the arts but also as a Melburnian to express my shock and sadness about the burning down of the much-loved La Mama Theatre on Faraday Street in Carlton.

Australian Parliament House, Canberra.

Australian Parliament House.

This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Australia has a proud history of passionate political expression, and last week, when Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, threatened to 'beat up' Australians who protest his visit to the ASEAN Summit in Sydney next month, he was rightly condemned by thousands of Australians both within and outside the Australian Cambodian community.

Today I want to recognise the life of Jim Stott.

Thank you for the invitation to speak today, and for that kind introduction. It’s good that the serious issue of elder abuse has brought together such a list of distinguished speakers.  Congratulations to the Seniors Rights Service for organising this terrific conference.

We in Labor have a proven record of fighting for integrity in government.