The sort of stupidity that happened in that hall was fairly minor but it sure is the thin end of the wedge just the same. I remember a long time ago New Zealand had a prime minister named Robert Muldoon who was basically a thug disguised as a politician. His claim to fame was having some journalists at a press conference physically removed by the police because he didn't like the questions they were asking! Our ex state premier, Joe Bjelke-Petersen, was well known for using the Queensland Police Force as his personal army when it came to busting heads at protests marches etc!
If you want to see something scary and have a few minutes to spare, watch
this clip of Muldoon being interviewed in 1976 on New Zealand TV.
😱