Page 456 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 May 1992
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Mr Kaine: This Government is. There is no change.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Kaine has already spoken about that this morning. Having the most conservative government in Australia sounds pretty right, after what the Minister has just said. If we are going to give these rights to people in legislation, let us back them up appropriately. What is the point of being able to tell someone that they can communicate with a friend if they do not understand what is being told to them? It is absolutely useless.
Mr Kaine: It is like the old white Australia test.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, indeed; the white Australia test seems to be coming back here. These are rights more accessible - - -
Mr Connolly: That is just silly.
MR HUMPHRIES: No, Minister, it is not silly. These rights you are granting in your Bill are accessible in these circumstances principally to Anglo-Celts, people with an understanding of English, not to other people. It is a fact of life. You look at what you have there.
Mr Connolly: I can see your press release being written now. A stunt!
MR HUMPHRIES: There is no requirement for a police officer to actually inform an accused person of anything under this Bill. There is no requirement - - -
Mr Kaine: This is the Attorney-General speaking. He does not want his prisoners to understand.
Mr Connolly: I take a point of order. I ask that that allegation be withdrawn. He is accusing me of not wanting to allow prisoners to know their rights. I clearly stated the contrary. It is a grubby interjection.
Mr Kaine: Madam Speaker, I will speak to that. He said that he could see the media release already written. If he wants to get into that sort of argument, we will get into the argument with him. It is quite clear that he has some sort of a mental block to the very reasonable proposition that the shadow Attorney-General is putting forward, but he does not want to hear it. I think the fact stands for itself.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, I do not think it is in order, though, for you to say that he does not want people to be informed. As he has correctly pointed out, he does want people to be informed and has argued that case. I do think that perhaps that is a little out of order and perhaps you should withdraw.
Mr Kaine: I think, Madam Speaker, that he is arguing against the proposition that a prisoner be informed, in a language that he can understand, of what his rights are.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, with respect - - -
Mr Kaine: Clearly, he is arguing that he does not want that to be put into effect.
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