After Howard delivered his speech, came a
discussion period:-
Irving:
Mr. John Howard - I am David Irving.
You know me of course. May I welcome you to our Parish
of Mayfair, as a citizen of the Parish of Mayfair? As you
know, I can't come to Australia. You have spoken a
great deal about liberalisation, of the pace of
liberalisation, which we can only greet, and of the
importance of the global network. Would you say a word
about Australia's record in the suppression of free
speech into your country, of which of course I am a
victim?
Howard: Mr. Irving, of course I do know you, uh
...
Irving (standing again): ... and of
course you are within the jurisdiction of the English
courts now sir ...
Howard: I, uh, do, I do, I do know you, and uh,
I am responsible as prime minister of my country, uh, for
taking a decision not to allow you to enter
Australia. And the reason for that decision was, uh,
based upon my government's perception of the Australian
national interest, and, uh, uh, the reasons that relate,
uh, in part, as you know, to some of views that you have
expressed about matters which we believe, if propagated
in Australia, would not be in the Australian national
interest. And my government, fully consistent with
impeccable credentials of free speech, has the right to
take that action. And I don't resile from it, I don't
apologise for it, and I believe that if it is in the
national interest of my, uh, of my country to take
decisions of that kind, uh, then we do. Taking in
relation to other people, we will continue to do so where
appropriate and any democratic country consistent with
its principles of free speech has a perfect right to do
so.
Irving: Thank you for that courteous and
shoddy answer!
Ramaphosa: Sir, you only have one chance -
David Irving