Page 5220 - Week 16 - Thursday, 28 November 1991
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the ACT and given those philosophical difficulties, we did not include these provisions in the Bill. Nevertheless, we will not object to Mr Collaery's amendment. I think it is fair to say that Mr Collaery has revised and reworked his amendment considerably, to the point where it is much closer now to the New South Wales model than, as it was originally, to the Western Australian model, and that certainly makes it a more acceptable proposal.
I also advise the Assembly that the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has made a recommendation that the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act should be amended to cover incitement to racial hatred and racial defamation. That work is still proceeding. Eventually there will be some Commonwealth legislation along the same lines. It is not a matter that is absolutely central to the Bill; but, as Mr Collaery has made great efforts to make his amendment more acceptable, we will not be opposing it.
The fact that so many of the comments directed to this amendment have been directed at Mr Stevenson, who is only one amongst 17, is enormously flattering to Mr Stevenson. I think Mr Collaery believes that he is making a pre-emptive strike to stop Mr Stevenson engaging in some kind of racial propaganda exercise in the ACT. We should not be introducing legislation aimed at the actions or the purported or imputed actions of one person. That is very flattering to Mr Stevenson. I think it is also fairly derisive of the ACT community. They know what Mr Stevenson is, and Mr Stevenson, it has to be said, is not alone in having been elected to this Assembly on one platform, ditching it completely, and coming up with a few little surprise packages.
Mr Stevenson: That is absolutely false, and you know it. You continue to make false statements, and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Mr Connolly: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Stevenson must withdraw that, surely.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Withdraw what?
Mr Connolly: Accusing the Chief Minister of knowingly making false statements. I was required by Mr Jensen to make a similar withdrawal yesterday. Mr Stevenson can move a substantive motion.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think that is probably right. Would you withdraw the word "false", Mr Stevenson? I think that is what Mr Jensen did yesterday, and I will be consistent in that ruling.
Mr Stevenson: Mr Deputy Speaker, the Chief Minister said that I had completely ditched my policies. That is an absolutely false statement.
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