That was not the time to stop Bess Price speaking Reader Sisyphus alerts me to something symbolic - and sad - about the way Bess Price's stunning speech below was stopped: It is worth noting that Mrs Price" incredibly important and powerful speech to the NT Legislative Assembly on Thursday was shut down by Mrs Delia Lawrie, the Leader of the Opposition and foremost Labor politician in the NT. From the Hansard of the NTLA: Mrs LAWRIE: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! I have to draw your attention to the clock, it is a standing order. Mr DEPUTYSPEAKER: In adjournment we do have a bit of leniency. Continue, Member for Stuart â¦ We do not actually. I appreciate Bess's speech, by the way, and believe this should be normally spoken in full length. I am sure you can do it another time, but there are conventions â¦ Given the content of Price's speech, Lawrie's intervention was doubly unfortunate. For readers of this blog, Price is a voice that should be heeded, not such down: Reader elinjaa: I have an enormous amount of respect for Bess Price. She continues to say that which needs to be said and work for changes that need to be made in the face of constant critisism and abuse from the "progressives..." Perhaps voices like hers will now be heard and the NT will show the rest of the country the way by finding genuine solutions to what seem like intractable problems for indigenous communities. Reader Susie: WOW - what a woman. Reader Saad: Oh. My. God.This is by far the most powerful essay I have ever read on the plight of Aboriginal Australia. We must stand behind this brave person, lose the empty symbolic racism that seeks to keep aboriginals in some kind of sick cultural museum and address the issues as we would for all other Australians. Welfare snd the law of the land must be blind to colour, race or creed. Only in this way can we honour the bravery and single-mindedness of Bess Price and the disenfranchised victims she champions in this landmark piece.I hope Tony Abbott reads this essay.