Page 1258 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 24 April 1990
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The Northern Territory Attorney-General indicated that the Northern Territory Government would follow the Commonwealth Government.
The important point of that is that all States expressed opposition.
A number of points have been made by various members in relation to X-rated videos being degrading to women, though I am quite surprised by the attitude of the former Chief Minister and now Leader of the Opposition, Rosemary Follett, in relation to this. As my colleague Mrs Nolan has stated, Ms Follett is one of the great proponents of women's issues in this Assembly. I think she is probably being somewhat remiss in relation to X-rated videos and contradictory to her normal stance in relation to this.
I would point out to members of the Labor Party a document that was tabled on 21 November 1989 during the debate on the X-rated video tax. Mr Berry might be interested in this because it is from a fellow trade unionist; it is from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, from a Mr J. De Bruyn, national secretary-treasurer. The document is dated 3 November 1988. It was addressed to federal parliamentarians and states:
Dear Parliamentarian,
Video Materials
Please find attached the decision of the National Council of the SDA - the largest union in Australia.
You will note that, contrary to impressions you may have gained from the press, the Union is fully aware of the nature and content of videos which bear the "X" classification.
Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; standing order 62, tedious repetition. First of all, in the speech he was quoting from before and - - -
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. You are debating the issue, Mr Moore. Be relevant, Mr Stefaniak. Please proceed.
MR STEFANIAK: I am reading from a document.
MR SPEAKER: Certainly; proceed.
MR STEFANIAK: The document continues:
Although physically not violent or coercive, this material, according to evidence cited by the Joint Select Committee on Video Materials, engenders in the habitual viewer "a sexually calloused and manipulative orientation towards women" depicting women in general as being highly promiscuous and available.
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