Page 1616 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
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MR WHALAN: I have withdrawn that reflection. I am telling you the public reaction to the decision yesterday - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Chief Minister, if you read your standing orders, you will see that you are reflecting on a decision of the house yesterday.
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, with due respect to you, I am reporting the public reaction to a decision. I am not in so doing reflecting on the decision myself.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed on that basis.
MR WHALAN: The fact that 100,000 people out there reflect on it does not mean that I am reflecting on it. The fact that 100,000 people out there reject it does not mean that I reject it. I have to accept it because I participated in the vote, albeit that I voted against it. But the 100,000 people out there who have risen up today in protest at this proposal are the ones whose views we are entitled to consider. There has not been one wimp of a voice in support of the decision. Look at the reporting in the Canberra Times, listen to the two programs on the ABC which have reported this, listen to the comments of public persons such as Senator Margaret Reid. Senator Margaret Reid is one of the most respected people in our community and her views cannot be ignored. Let us see what Senator Margaret Reid had to say. She is quoted in the Canberra Times as saying, "Where is the proof that it is harmful?". She condemned the decision of this Assembly. I cannot understand how the Liberal Party was able to adopt the position that it did yesterday when it took this particular position.
Let me just also look at something that has happened here in the Assembly today. Through you, Mr Speaker, I would like to remind Mr Michael Moore that Mr Michael Moore introduced private members' business into this Assembly today on prostitution. Why did he not introduce legislation, just as you did, instead of referring this issue to a select committee? He referred it to a select committee because he thought it important.
I support that proposal, and we voted in favour of it. So where is the consistency between this man's actions yesterday, when he twice denied the people of the ACT the opportunity to be consulted on this matter, and today, when he moves in the opposite direction? But then we have come to expect that that is the way that the Residents Rally party operates: say one thing, do another. That is the pattern under which the Residents Rally continues to operate.
It was interesting to see the Canberra Times editorial, which I found particularly instructive. It was interesting to hear journalists of the calibre of Pru Goward pressing the issue with Mr Collaery this morning and Mr Collaery sort of hiding behind criticisms of the Canberra Times, our worthy
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