Page 5140 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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When you have members of parliament, as in the ACT parliament, who will stand up and speak on what may be called a Bill of Rights, a Discrimination Bill or something else, members who would stand up and support the destruction of our common law rights and support a Star Chamber, is that not a reasonable reason? Of course, I say that in a humorous vein.
Although I think most people should be able to join organisations, who would say that someone does not have the right to start up an association of left-handed tennis players? Why should they be denied the right? Who would deny someone the right to start up a Fabian association and deny other people access to their Christmas party? The Labor Party would do that, because they did it. I do not know whether that was discrimination just because I wanted to go along to the Christmas party, or whether they would have discriminated against other people. Perhaps some clue could have been given - - -
Mrs Grassby: Join the Labor Party.
Mr Wood: We have enough already.
MR SPEAKER: Continue, please, Mr Stevenson. I believe that you do have the floor.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Wood just said, "We have enough", supposedly referring to enough people in the Labor Party who hold the view that we should not destroy our constitutional protections. I suggest that they have not enough. If they do have enough, they are certainly not in positions of power, because they would never let such legislation be presented. When it comes to the Fabian Society, a lot of people do not know what Fabians are. Why do you not go and let people know what they are and what their goals are? Here we have people in the Fabian Society standing up and saying - - -
Mr Collaery: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Stevenson is attempting to recruit from the gallery. I do not know how successful he might be, but I suggest that he is wasting his own time and our time.
MR SPEAKER: I believe that he is polling, Mr Collaery. Please proceed, Mr Stevenson; but address your comments to the Chair instead of to the gallery.
MR STEVENSON: I apologise, Mr Speaker. It is about as scientific as my polling gets. I say again and again that the Labor members can come along and have a look at my polls any time they like. What I suggest is that we swap polls; they show me theirs and I will show them mine.
MR SPEAKER: Relevance, please, Mr Stevenson.
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