Page 5092 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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a person who is related to the first-mentioned person by blood, marriage, affinity or adoption;
... ... ...
It is a very interesting suggestion that we can have a relative created by affinity.
I shall briefly mention why I speak on these matters. Mr Berry made certain comments earlier about why I do that. I do it because we have marvellous rights in this country. We have democratic rights in Australia, the like of which I do not believe is seen in any other country in the world. If we do not watch, if we do not fight for those rights, we will lose them, particularly under legislation such as this.
Mr Berry asks why I stand, why I fight, why I bring these amendments in. I do that to honour what is the right and responsibility and obligation of every member in this Assembly, that is, to debate on the floor of the house the important points you believe in. No-one here today will be able to say that this Bill does not destroy common law rights. Perhaps what will happen is that those ideologues that would force it through, knowing full well what it does to human rights, how it prevents people from discriminating, would prefer to ignore the matter. They would prefer not to discuss these rights, some of which I have mentioned and many more of which I will mention during this debate.
I stand to discuss this matter because it is vital. I care about rights as much as or more than anybody else in this Assembly. I have shown that not by talking about it but by doing it.
Ms Follett: The League of Rights.
MR STEVENSON: Once again the Chief Minister sings out, "League of Rights". It is an interesting point. Normally the Chief Minister does not make such comments herself. On this occasion she has made an exception, if you like, perhaps because she does not agree with what I say. Yet, what I have done in this Assembly again and again is to try to represent the majority expressed will of the people of Canberra, to try to represent as best I can the constitutional law that has protected Australians for many years.
What can be more representative of people than polling people and asking what they want - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Relevance, Mr Stevenson.
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