Page 2060 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 June 1990
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their own argument that this Bill somehow restricts the distribution of X-rated videos altogether. I guess that this is pretty typical of the Labor Party.
Tonight we have heard Dennis Stevenson. At least he has been consistent in his opposition to X-rated videos. In a way, I am disappointed that he does not support this legislation because it does go some way towards removing some of the local problems. I accept that he has great concerns about the availability of X-rated videos through mail order and so on, and this really will not affect that at all. But, with regard to the local ACT area, I would have imagined that Mr Stevenson would have supported this legislation at least on this basis because, as the apologists for the X-rated industry say, we are disadvantaging people. They now have to go to the local industrial area to get their hands on X-rated material. I thought that that would have appealed to Mr Stevenson, but at least he is being reasonably consistent.
I must admit I have doubts about his anecdotal evidence of arguments concerning the dangers of X-rated material to the Aboriginal community.
Mr Stevenson: That is the difference between research.
MR DUBY: That may well be. I do not want to be uncharitable, but it seems remarkable to me that Mr Stevenson can find dreadful things wrong with the Aboriginal community and not with the white community or the Vietnamese community or any other community. It is almost as if the Aboriginals are incapable of looking after themselves, which I am sure they are not. It almost smacks of racism, but nevertheless - - -
Mr Stevenson: I clearly said that it was the Aboriginal people who had said that, as you know.
MR DUBY: I do not dispute that.
Finally, we heard the comments of Mr Connolly, who said that the legislation could result in banning videos anywhere. It is almost as if he is opposing the legislation because of some libertarian view that this is a backhanded way of banning X-rated videos. This is typical of the man. He knows perfectly well what the Government's intentions are. We have made those clear; there have been editorials on these various issues. For him to say that this is somehow a backhanded approach and therefore Labor will oppose the Bill flies in the face of reason. Not three hours ago I asked Mr Connolly the Labor Party's view on this Bill and the other Bills and he assured me, "Oh, yes, we will be supporting this one; don't you worry".
Ms Follett: You liar, Craig. That is a lie!
Mr Connolly: I said, "I don't think we will be opposing it".
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