Page 602 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 1990
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What Mr Stevenson's Bill attempts to do is best illustrated by the series of telephone calls I had after an advertisement in the paper giving my telephone number to people who wanted to object to X-rated videos and support his Bill. I asked them, "If you had the opportunity to support the banning of 'The Last Temptation of Christ', what would you do?" Without fail, they all said they would ban it. What we are talking about, of course, is not the banning of non-violent erotica. It is a foot in the door; it is an attempt to take over the censorship role of the Federal Government, which we do not have the right to do.
Mr Wood: We cannot do that; we do not have the power to do it.
MR MOORE: We do not have the power, but that discussion will arise when we return to Mr Stevenson's Bill. The point I am trying to make is that I reached a compromise with the video industry, so that all the matters that Mr Collaery brought up in his speech were irrelevant. Had he read what was distributed to him this morning and had he taken note of what was said on the ABC yesterday, he would have understood that the amendment introduces something quite different.
I am entitled to certain rights relating to private members' business and Mr Collaery's attempt to adjourn the debate is, of course, totally inappropriate. Between 10 o'clock and 10.25 this morning I saw three changes of position by the Government. I was told "We are going to do this, we are going to do that, we are going to do the other". At 10.25, with the bells ringing, I was told that it was likely that Mr Collaery would move for an adjournment of the debate on my Bill. Was this because he was worried, as he said about five times, about grandstanding? Was he worried about Michael Moore getting a bit of publicity? I could not care less. I introduced this Bill because of Mr Collaery's shifting sands. The way I read the numbers was very simple - eight-eight, with the decision to be made by Mr Collaery on Mr Stevenson's Bill.
I do not believe that the Stevenson Bill should be carried and therefore I attempted to find a compromise for Mr Collaery so that we did not have the stupid situation that we had last time where he made up his mind on the floor, then changed it at the last minute when we were about to tax the X-rated videos. What we have is a chameleon who does not know what he is doing and who hates making decisions. If he can put anything off at any time, that is exactly what he will do, and that is what he is on about here. If he can possibly put it off and leave it to the State Attorneys so that he can do his grandstanding - and let him do it, I am very happy; I am sure they will be delighted with the way he is approaching it - he will do so.
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