Forum 1 transcript Closing

North Shore Talks / North Shore Peace and Democracy . . .. . . ....

Genia McCaffery: Now, I said at the beginning that we were going to finish at 9:30. I think we've had some very stimulating debate tonight, heard lots of different points of view. I would like to thank you all for being such a reasonable, good audience, and fair, and thank you all for coming. And I'd like to introduce Sue Roffey, who is one of the organisers of this evening, to say a few words. (Applause)

Sue Roffey: Some of us were standing in Mosman Market giving out information, because we didn't want the war on Iraq to happen, and somebody approached us and got into argument with one of our members and said: "Look", he said. "you know, never mind if it wasn't Saddam obliterated the World Towers on 9/11, we've got to hit someone! We've got to show that we're strong." And I thought, that's it for informed debate.

I want to say thank you this evening, first of all to the panel, who have given us a lot of food for thought. I think it's wonderful that they've all agreed to come, and I do agree that my respect for Tony Abbott - I disagree with most of what he says, as you probably realise, but I have to respect him for his democracy by being here. (Applause) I'd also like to thank North Sydney Council for their support of this, Genia for chairing this, Susan for giving welcome to country. (Applause)

I'd like to thank the team. I know it's a picture of David and me on the front of the Mosman Daily, we are one of a team - and if you want to see democracy at work you want to see this team work. Nobody said "you should be ... ", everybody said "I can" and "I will". I'd also like to thank all of you for being here. I think the most important thing we have to say tonight is that we do desperately need, desperately need, informed debate. We actually do need to be and live the democracy that Tony says that we have the freedom to be. With that freedom comes responsibility. (Applause)

And if I want to say anything to this audience, thank you for being here, is to say: please, will you go away and will you please just keep talking, will you just please keep on asking the questions, will you please just have the courage. And, I know it's an old saying, but if you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. Thank you. (Applause).