Page 911 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 March 1991
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this theory is consistent with English history, consistent with legal authority and logically consistent.
The development of law in Australia after the development of the "sovereign parliament" theory is a national embarrassment.
... ... ...
However, the strength of conviction of the English people to the existence of their fundamental rights is best illustrated by the Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights of 1688. Both of these documents were documents of the people, forged from revolutions, they were not statutory products of a parliament.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will just stop you there, Mr Stevenson. You could actually make that relevant, but you are really not talking about the Weapons Bill. Would you relate that to this Weapons Bill. Please be relevant.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I consider nothing more relevant than whether or not this Assembly has the jurisdiction to enact such legislation. Would you care to make a ruling on that? If you wish to stop me, stop me.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, if you would like to show why this Assembly cannot enact this weapons legislation, by all means speak to that; but try to keep it reasonably concise.
MR STEVENSON: That is exactly what I am speaking to. I have to keep it reasonably concise because I was told by Mrs Nolan yesterday that Bernard Collaery, the Attorney-General, would not allow me extended time to make - - -
Mrs Nolan: That is not what I said.
MR STEVENSON: You said that I would not be allowed - - -
Mrs Nolan: That is not what I said.
MR STEVENSON: Tell us.
Mrs Nolan: I will tell you later.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let us not have cross-chamber banter, members. Continue, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: I continue:
Likewise, with the Sovereign Parliament taking over the position of the former Sovereign, it cannot take over powers that the former Sovereign did not have. As the former Sovereign was required to respect the fundamental rights of the
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