Bendigo forum a chance for some sticky questions

By Brett Worthington
Updated November 7 2012 - 6:04am, first published October 6 2011 - 11:10am
Question time: Tony Abbott at yesterday’s Bendigo forum.
Question time: Tony Abbott at yesterday’s Bendigo forum.

QUESTIONS about multiculturalism and Christian values proved popular with attendees at a community forum in Bendigo.Opposition leader Tony Abbott fielded questions for more than an hour at the invite-only event at The Capital theatre.“My point today is I am concerned that we’re called a multicultural country, we should not be a multicultural country,” a woman said, prompting applause from the crowd.“People who come here come here for our freedom... they can come in, they are free, they have their own religion, they’re free to do everything but they cannot change our laws... should people come here to live then they have to abide by our laws.”Mr Abbott told the crowd he used to be an opponent of multiculturalism but had changed his belief through his work with Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy.“What I came to understand... was that the people who have made a conscious decision to come to Australia are often far more explicitly attached to our values than the people who are born here and never had to make that decision,” he said.“I mean, people who have come to this country from other places have voted with their feet for Australia in a way that those who were born here haven’t.”Climate change, water, disability funding, agriculture and poker machines were among the topics attendees asked Mr Abbott about.He came under criticism from two questioners who called on the Liberal leader to rethink his policies to tackle climate change.But it was a mostly friendly mood among attendees, who included failed state and federal Liberal candidates and former Bendigo MP Bruce Reid.Questioners regularly praised Mr Abbott, telling him he would be the nation’s next prime minister.Editorial – Page 10

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Bendigo news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.