Page 4464 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 19 November 1991
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Trade unionism is only one of them, Mr Berry. There are a number of other reasons; do not forget that. If we are going to be fair dinkum here, we cannot let narrow ideology prevent us from putting into this Bill the relevant things to, in fact, make it work.
I am pleased to see, in Part III, the large number of very sensible exemptions from unlawful discrimination. I am pleased to see those exemptions apply. Various other possible exemptions can be specifically brought to the commissioner's attention, and applied for. They also appear to be quite sensible. Indeed, there is much in this Bill which can be commended; and, hopefully, it will work in practice. We have a few reservations about it. It will be interesting to see how it pans out in practice. We will be moving a number of amendments. Other members will also be moving amendments to this particular piece of legislation. Hopefully, when it is passed, it will ensure that we have workable anti-discrimination legislation, because that is what this is all about.
I am pleased to see also that the provisions in relation to administering this piece of legislation are not particularly bureaucratically onerous. It is envisaged that there will be a permanent bureaucrat, a part-time commissioner and some support staff. I think it is a bureaucracy of three people, plus the part-time commissioner. That does not impose an unreasonable burden on the ACT taxpayer. Accordingly, I think only some $150,000 has been allocated in this budget for this measure. That certainly is sensible. I would hate to see a huge bureaucracy develop out of this. That is not intended by anyone. This Bill has the support of my party. However, we do see the need for a number of amendments, which we will move at the detail stage.
MR HUMPHRIES (9.56): As Mr Stefaniak indicated, the Liberal Party will support the concept of legislation which outlaws discrimination. Clearly, that is a development which is very much in tune with those occurring elsewhere in this country, and it is not a trend that the Liberal Party would generally oppose. But, as with all legislation, we would like to ensure that we enact for the Territory legislation which is appropriate for the Territory and which is workable and just in the Territory, and not merely enact legislation because it is trendy or fashionable to do so in other places in this Commonwealth. Accordingly, we have considered the Bill carefully, and have a number of reservations. Those reservations, of course, have been outlined, at least in part, by Mr Stefaniak.
It is true, I believe, that some discrimination is not only inevitable but also potentially desirable in respect of the activity of human beings. We all discriminate in a variety of ways, in every aspect of our daily lives.
Mr Duby: I do not, you bastard!
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