Page 2307 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 June 1990
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Mrs Grassby: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. I am sick of Mr Collaery putting women down. We can stand up for ourselves a lot better than he can. So can Ms Maher.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Grassby, that is not a valid point of order. Please proceed, Ms Maher.
MS MAHER: I have full confidence in Mr Kaine personally and in his capacity as Chief Minister. I believe he has carried out his duties as Chief Minister in an effective and efficient manner and I have no doubts that he will continue to do so. I wish to have it on the record that Mr Kaine has my full support.
MR STEVENSON (3.41), in reply: Mr Speaker, Mr Kaine said that it was not the Assembly's wish to ban X-rated videos. There is a truth in that and there is another point of view. The truth is that indeed it was not the wish of the majority of the Assembly to ban X-rated videos. However, in Australia, unfortunately, we do not have a situation where every member who is elected has a fair and even say. We have a situation of a control of government - in other words, of all the members - by a number of those members who form a majority. It was the desire and intention of the majority of the Alliance to ban X-rated videos. That is the relevant point here.
Mr Kaine said that I attacked him. I think it is known that I take great pains not to make personal attacks on people, although in a case of no confidence where you are saying that someone does not have integrity, I can understand how that would be seen to be an attack on that person's character. Indeed, integrity is a part of a person's character.
Mr Kaine mentioned a number of times that I introduced the X-rated video issue and this motion for the good of my own publicity. On 8 November last year I issued a public statement to the media. It said:
Due to mounting public concern on the X-rated video issue, I wish to make my position clear. I have had a lot of contact through my office with people who have expressed concern regarding X-rated videos. My desire is to do the will of the people as expressed by Lionel Bowen in the unanimous view of the Standing Committee of Censorship Ministers.
Mr Speaker, why did I introduce a Bill to ban X-rated videos? For some months I did not, but Mr Kaine, who is now the Chief Minister, told me that he would not introduce a Bill because he did not have the numbers. That is why I introduced a Bill, because I do not care about the numbers. I believe that what is right is far more important than whether or not people will do what is right in this Assembly.
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