Page 1973 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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Adjournment
MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Collaery: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
MR DUBY: Licences will also specify the premises from which the sale or hire of any X-rated video may occur. Any breach or change to the conditions upon which a licence was granted would allow the commissioner to cancel that licence. Wholesaling or retailing X-rated videos without a licence will attract strict penalties. These are $5,000 or two years' imprisonment for natural persons engaged in unlicensed wholesale and $2,000 for natural persons retailing without a licence. Corporate bodies convicted of offences may be fined up to five times these amounts.
Mr Speaker, it should be clearly understood that this Bill does not have the effect of legalising or legitimising X-rated videos. The industry has been operating legally for a long time and is subject to controls established by the Commonwealth. While this Bill places certain obligations and restrictions on the industry, it should be emphasised that it is primarily a revenue measure.
Regulation of the industry also occurs through the operation of the ACT Publications Control Act. The Publications Control Act provides a strict regulatory and penal code which restricts the publication, advertising, sale, hire and distribution of X-rated materials, including videotapes.
The Government is concerned to ensure that there is effective regulation and control of the industry, especially in relation to minors. My colleague Mr Collaery, in his capacity as Attorney-General, introduced legislation to provide for a range of measures to impose tighter controls on the industry.
In conclusion, this Bill seeks to impose a tax on a well established ACT industry. The scheme will operate to raise revenue in much the same way as the sale of petroleum and tobacco products in the Territory. Business franchises now contribute significantly to the ACT's revenue and in the 1990-91 financial year $24.6m is expected to be raised, of which $4m is estimated to come from the franchise scheme established by this Bill. Mr Speaker, I now present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Moore) adjourned.
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