Page 2760 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 21 November 1989
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stating the Liberal Party policy, because that really explains our position on this particular tax. Our policy, as ratified in October last year by a convention, states in relation to this subject:
The ACT Liberal Party believes that the sale, distribution and exhibition of X-rated and excessively violent material in the ACT is undesirable.
Consequently, a future ACT Liberal administration will bring the ACT into line with all States by banning the sale, distribution and exhibition of X-rated video and film material in the ACT, and will review the film and video classifications so that excessively violent material is banned. Accordingly, Mr Speaker, it would be hypocritical for the Liberal Party to do anything else but oppose this tax, and I concur fully with the comments made by my leader, Mr Kaine, and also those made by Dr Kinloch in relation to this.
It is useful, when talking about this tax, to go to some of the documents that have been flooding the Assembly and flooding members of the Assembly over the last few weeks. Firstly, I will quote from a document supplied by the Government on 14 November called An Information Kit: Debate on X-rated Videos. I quote from this document in relation to X classifications, referring to the meeting in Darwin on 30 June 1988 and the decisions taken by the standing committee of Ministers concerned with censorship matters. The document states:
All States expressed opposition to the introduction of the new 'Non Violent Erotica' category as discussed by the Joint Select Committee in its recommendations. They also indicated that the present 'X' classification would not be reintroduced to the States. The Federal Attorney-General indicated that he would take the matter back to the Government for consideration and the future of 'X' rated material in the Australian Capital Territory would depend upon what the Government decides.
The Northern Territory Attorney-General indicated that the Northern Territory Government would follow the Commonwealth Government.
I think the important part there is that all States expressed opposition, as indeed I think a couple of speakers to date have indicated.
Also in some of the material provided was this recent piece of material provided under the heading, "Pornographic Video Material; ACT Legislative Assembly Brief". Mr Kaine, in fact, has tabled this document. I will read it out. I think it is particularly relevant to Mr Berry, being such a strong unionist, because it is from the Shop, Distributive
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