Page 1238 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 24 April 1990
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years of age, and it was an abnormality to find such problems in a girl of that age. After lengthy discussions we got to the topic of why she wanted to have a baby at the age of 15 years. We discussed sex. She was living or spending her time with an 18-year-old and his mates who watched pornography every night. She was obliged to participate in what they and she saw on the screen. She was totally confused. She believed that was the norm; she had nothing else to guide her. She believed it was the norm, and she wanted to have a baby.
I said, "Why? It seems totally irresponsible of you, and you have other problems". She went on to explain that she wanted somebody to love her. That is why she wanted to have a baby. The sexual relationship she was in was presenting to her nothing but sexual fulfilment of others - gratification to the boys who were sharing her body. I asked her whether she enjoyed it; "no" was the answer. I asked, "Why are you going along with it?". She said, "Because that seems to be what I am expected to do". This was her learning curve of life. At 15 she wanted somebody to love her, so she decided she had to have a baby. If you tell me that is not harm, you are out of touch with society.
Mr Moore: It is anecdotal.
MR PROWSE: It is anecdotal - we get it again. That is all you can come back to. You want this in a test tube. I believe you are very narrow-minded. If you keep coming out with your interruptions, you are proving yourself to be a blinkered person in your approach to our society.
Mr Berry: You base things on facts.
MR PROWSE: Thank you, again, from the fireman opposite. We worry about the rape of our girls and our women because of titillation provided by various means; pornography is just one of them. But what will those of us who have sons - and I address that to some of the members here - do if our sons are titillated into behaving in an antisocial manner and gaoled because of it? That worries me. I have a young son and others here have young sons. They will be gaoled if they carry out some of the things that they are learning from television screens. Can young people watch this tripe?
Mr Whalan: Remember the move-on powers that you and Bernie Collaery supported?
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
MR PROWSE: Thank you. Can young people watch this tripe?
Mr Whalan: Good on you, Bernie - one of your great contributions to civil liberties.
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