Page 603 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 1990
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What we are really interested in is doing what is best for the people of Canberra. That is the most important thing. We have the opportunity now to show that we can accept the compromise position and defeat the draconian Bill that has been put up by Dennis Stevenson. That is what it is about, and that is why this compromise has been put forward.
What Mr Collaery has said today is, basically, that the Government has these objections to Mr Moore's Bill, not because of what is in it but because of its timing. Its timing does not suit the Government because it does not give Mr Collaery the opportunity to go to the Attorneys-General and say, "Look, here's the way to do it. I'm the wonderful person, I'm the Attorney-General; I'm not just a bum lawyer who earns $3000 a year. I'm now an Attorney-General and I can push all the Attorneys-General into this way, that way or the other way". So Mr Collaery is going to feel really good about that, and feeling good about it is exactly one of the questions I have asked people who have phoned me about X-rated movies.
What do they say when they phone up? They say, "Can you support Dennis Stevenson's Bill?" I say, "Look, what do you want to do? Do you want to minimise the usage of these videos or do you want to feel good that you've tried to ban them?" And that is what this is really about. If you attempt to go for the prohibition line that Dennis Stevenson has put up - and I argued this strongly when I introduced this Bill - you will actually increase the usage and also spread the usage of non-violent erotica to include violent erotica, snuff movies, bestiality, and all the revolting things that are around. That is what you will do if you try and ban these videos.
The video industry has 250,000 names and addresses in the ACT. Do you really think it is going to say, "Ah, well, we're not going to earn any more money now. It was a good idea but I suppose we'll retire now because they don't want any X-rated videos around the place"? What absolute nonsense. Of course the industry will not do that; it will get going. And what sort of restrictions or regulations do we have to try to do anything about it?
Mr Jensen: Like in the States, Michael. Tell them about the States.
MR MOORE: The States have the same opportunity to put up a Dennis Stevenson Bill - exactly the same opportunity. They can do it and they have not done it because they do not want to do it. That is the difference. Pulling ourselves into line with the States is absolute nonsense - and that is from Bernard Collaery himself who told the Attorneys-General that they were all hypocrites, according to the report on WIN television.
Mr Jensen: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You have already mentioned reference to members by their christian names - - -
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