Page 1454 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992
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MR DE DOMENICO: Because he did not want to learn anything. Mr Lamont is probably on a promise, Madam Speaker. If we could see more into what was going on in here, he is probably on a promise. What Mr Lamont is all about is getting into bed with some left-wing radical organisation and others - a very dangerous liaison, Madam Speaker which could lead to a fatal attraction.
As Mr Humphries quite rightly said, if there is so much unseen cruelty in circuses in the ACT, why have there not been any prosecutions under existing legislation? Perhaps the Minister might want to answer that at the end of the debate. Why have there not been any prosecutions under existing legislation? That is one question I would like answered later on in the debate. I would say that it is because these claims of cruelty are greatly exaggerated, Mr Lamont and Madam Speaker, by people who have political aims rather than concern over the welfare of circus animals. As Mr Humphries rightly said, why can you always be cruel to a tiger and not be cruel to a camel? That is another question. Mr Lamont sat very happily at the tourism awards, by the way, Madam Speaker, whilst the camels paraded around the circus; but if he was really fair dinkum he would also ban camels and everything else.
Let us consider some other things. For example, I am sure that there is more cruelty to horses in the racing industry through the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs from time to time, poor stabling, bad training methods, and inadequate breeding than there is in the circus industry.
Mr Lamont: Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Lamont says, "Outrageous". Let me now quote, and later incorporate in Hansard, Madam Speaker - let me give you notice of that - from a facsimile I received today from a Mr Colquhoun. I asked him whether he would mind me using his name. Mr Colquhoun happens to be the chairman of the ACT Racing Club and also, by the way, chairman of the TAB.
Mr Kaine: Appointed by this Government.
MR DE DOMENICO: Appointed by this Government. Let us hear what Mr Colquhoun has to say about the issue. He says:
The racing industry's difficulties with the Bill in its present form are threefold.
1. Lack of definition of an act of cruelty.
He goes on to say that clause 7 of the Bill says so and so. He says, and he is also a lawyer, Madam Speaker:
Some conduct which occurs during a horse race will prima facie be an act of cruelty. For example the use of a whip by a barrier attendant, the use of a whip by a jockey, the use of a tongue tie by a trainer and the use of hobbles in a trotting race could (and perhaps would) be considered acts of cruelty by a magistrate or judge or jury.
So I ask the Minister: Does the Minister intend to ban horseracing in the ACT? If the answer to that question is yes, is the Government prepared to forgo $6m of revenue into the ACT economy per year, if we are to believe the Sport Minister, Mr Berry?
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