Page 5087 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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Ms Follett: He is talking about pornography.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You could probably stretch that to object 3. Try to stay a little bit away from pornography, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker. I think it is important, when someone calls for women and children to be protected, that he be seen to be concerned about it himself. It is certainly not something that Mr Berry or his comrades have taken any notice of.
One of the difficulties with this Bill and others like it is that it creates a Star Chamber. Not only does the commission investigate, it also adjudicates and prosecutes. It has discretions that are exercised administratively, not judicially.
Why is it, once again, that if we want to bring in legislation we do not do so under duly constituted protections under the legal system? This does not provide for natural justice. The objects of this Bill do not explain what will happen under the Bill. We all know that we have fundamental principles of law in Australia, and I quote a particular maxim. If one fails to understand the fundamental principles of law, then there is no end to the degree to which one can be deceived about what is right and what is wrong. There would be no end to the means by which one could be manoeuvred and duped into abandoning or surrendering one's rights.
Law governs all events and things that concern our lives. Clearly, a failure to have a practical understanding of the maxims of law would lead to grievous errors in its application - no less, though, than the errors resulting from one's ignorance of the principles of any other science.
This is the point I make. It would appear that there are not grave concerns from anyone else in this Assembly. Why is it that I am the only one here so far - and there will certainly be plenty of opportunity for other members to speak up; I guarantee that - to speak up for true individual rights that have been worked and fought for, that people have died for, for generations? It is all very well to listen to Labor ideology suggesting that people should have rights. Do we honestly believe that? Would Mr Duby believe that? Would Carmel Maher believe that? Would the Liberal Party members believe that, when the Liberal Party have a proud tradition of standing up for rights?
Ms Maher: This gives them rights. It guarantees them. It takes away discrimination.
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