Page 5267 - Week 16 - Thursday, 28 November 1991
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MR MOORE (4.01): I believe that clause 76 is one of the most important clauses in the whole human rights legislation. I think it emphasises an attitude that goes with the particular legislation. The very issue that we are trying to resolve is bigotry. I think that, in looking at a conciliatory approach rather than a hardline approach, we have far more chance of changing people's ideas and attitudes. No matter how much we legislate, it is still a very difficult thing to change people's attitudes. But it is a step in the right direction.
We already have had major changes in attitudes in our society over the last 20 years. I suppose all who are my age or older, in the same range as me, think back to our own actions some 20 years ago with embarrassment. In our youth and in our enthusiasm for youth, in our understanding of other people's rights, there were things that we did not recognise. I imagine that all of us can think back to situations in which we were involved when we were intolerant of other people's human rights.
Mr Duby: No.
MR MOORE: With the exception of Mr Duby, who interjects, "No". He clearly has never made a statement, for example, such as is covered under clause 57. He never wolf-whistled at an inappropriate time or did anything along those lines.
Mr Duby: Hey, hang on!
MR MOORE: You said "No", so I gave you a couple of examples. I do recognise the broad grin on Mr Duby's face that went with his interjection.
I think it is important to say that this really is one of the most important clauses in the Bill because it does set the attitude. It is about attitude. It is about the attitude of the Bill. It is one of conciliation. Just a short while ago we heard Mr Stevenson saying that, to resolve the sorts of problems we have worldwide as far as Mr Collaery's motion went, we need people to talk more and to understand; so, I would presume that Mr Stevenson, although he has objected to great slabs of this Bill, would be very supportive of this particular clause because it is so important and it is so critical to the whole way that the Bill operates.
MR STEVENSON (4.03): Yes, I will respond. As I mentioned a moment ago, I agree entirely with conciliation. It is the way it is gone about and what happens afterwards that I have concerns with. I agree with conciliation; I agree with communication, more and more of it. It is the Star Chamber and the destruction of our rights underneath that chamber that I am concerned with.
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