Page 2263 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 June 1990
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Stevenson's portrayal of a principled opposition to any form of tax on videos suffered a damning blow because of his injudicious decision to get up in this Assembly and move an amendment to the Government's tax Bill to support a 400 per cent rate tax. Mr Stevenson, presumably, will support lots of loot from lust, but not 20 per cent or 40 per cent of loot from lust. It would seem it is all a question of the amount of loot relative to the amount of lust.
Mr Speaker, the Government's view and stated position on X-rated videos, in our view, displays total opportunism and the hypocrisy referred to in Mr Stevenson's motion. This is particularly demonstrated by its members' continued pretence that they would prefer to take the high moral stand, would prefer to ban this material, would ban this material if they could, but are prevented from doing that because of the Assembly's rejection of the Stevenson resolution. The Government seeks to hide behind the views of the Assembly which voted, as we know, nine to eight against banning X-rated video materials on the Stevenson Bill. It says, "We can't ban the material. We have to tax it. We would really like to be with you. We take the high moral stand" - pious comments about the evil nature of this material - "but we can't prevent it from going ahead".
Mr Speaker, the Government has got away with that up to now, but it cannot get away with it any longer, following the passage the other night of the Publications Control (Amendment) Bill.
Mr Jensen: Something you failed to do.
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Jensen, in particular, commented in the house the other night that he would prefer to ban X-rated video material, and he still no doubt would prefer to ban X-rated video material. I understand from the remarks of Mr Stevenson and the comments across the chamber that the Rally's position is that Rally members have a conscience vote on the question of banning X-rated material. We are aware, from Mr Stefaniak's reported remarks, of the Liberal Party view on X-rated material.
They will have their opportunity. The Publications Control (Amendment) Act, which is now the law in force in the Australian Capital Territory, totally bans the sale of X-rated video material in this Territory unless Mr Collaery makes a regulation to allow it. The ball is solidly in the Government's court, and solidly in Mr Collaery's court. Indeed, Mr Collaery quite properly tabled the draft of the regulations and I dare say the papers are, if not sitting on his desk now awaiting signature, in preparation by the law officers.
Mr Collaery: I have signed them.
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Speaker, he has signed them. Well, how will the party room react to that? The public of Canberra
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