Page 1202 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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Mrs Grassby: Why not?
MR STEVENSON: "Why not?", members of the Labor Party say. At 43c a pop, sending out 90,000 letters around Canberra gets fairly expensive. The Labor Party in this Assembly has spent money on extra staff, which I certainly do not have. How can groups of concerned individuals combat that sort of might as well?
The suggestion that it is a matter of money is an absurdity. It is a matter, yet again, of centralised power. It is a matter of a never ending suction, if you like, of power to the Federal Government, the people in power. Independents and other concerned groups such as the National Farmers Federation and the logging industry are concerned. The Salvation Army has shown concern about this because they, like most people in Australia, are not sure how far the Labor Party is going to grab at our rights this time.
Let us look at what will happen. The Liberal Party will not agree with it federally, nor should they; I commend them on that. The Democrats are in two minds, and let us understand why that is. Firstly, they have been offered an inducement. They would receive an increase in public funding in the Senate, commensurate with the level in the House of Representatives - or should I say politicians and one representative, Ted Mack.
What we need to do is make sure people stand up against this attempt at abolishing our freedom of expression. It is not done with any sort of consultation with the community. It has not been done with any sort of consultation with other political parties and independent groups in this country. Unfortunately, it is yet another grab at power, and we should fight against it, and strongly.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (4.35): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Federal Government over the last few days has clearly exhibited its true colours at last - those of a desperate, old and tired Government grasping at straws, a Government which in the past - and I emphasise that - has boasted about its talent as a good communicator and its ability to enter into fruitful community consultations.
The Federal ALP Government, however, has shown that it is intolerant. It does not want to debate. It does not wish to adhere to the fine democratic principles that Australia has inherited from the Westminster system. When Federal Cabinet, on Tuesday, 19 March, endorsed the blanket ban on political advertising on radio and television, the Government embarked on a very dangerous road - the denial of free political expression and the ability of individuals, charity groups, industry, community organisations and political parties to put their views
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