Page 2090 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 9 September 1992
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MR STEVENSON: Some people also say that we can make any poll come out any way we want it. That is only if you are biased and only if you run it in a biased manner. Some people could suggest, and certainly members of the Labor Party would have suggested, nationally, federally and in the States, that people should have the right of initiative and referendum. Indeed, it was a major Labor Party objective, and a good one. I commend them for that up to 1963 when they took it off the books. That is the way to allow citizens to have a say if some people disagree with polls.
I have had an open offer for people to come along and join us in polling, to have a look at exactly how we do it. I have mentioned a number of times in this Assembly how it has been done. We usually survey between 600 and 1,000 people. Now it is slightly less, but we are also checking it with a telephone poll. How else do you find out the will of the people when they have not been taught that their constitutional right and responsibility is to let members know? Their constitutional legal obligation is to let their members, their elected representatives, know - - -
Mr Lamont: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I rise to take a point of order.
MR STEVENSON: I find it hard to believe that Mr Lamont, after making so many objections, could raise a point of order.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Grassby): Mr Stevenson, could I hear the point of order, please?
Mr Lamont: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I find that the arguments of the speaker are becoming repetitious. I suggest that you call him to account for that.
Mr Stevenson: Let us not talk about comments opposite.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, when Mr Lamont is on his feet taking a point of order I would appreciate it if you would be quiet.
Mr Stevenson: Indeed, you are quite right. I should not have done it. I apologise.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: We have an interesting situation in that laws can be enforced when they have the support of the people, when they have the support of law-makers and when there is an intention to enforce those laws. There is one thing that everybody agrees on here today, from what I can see, and that is that marijuana is harmful. Let us look at some of the possible harmful effects of marijuana. There were studies by the National Academy of Sciences in America in the 1980s. They had volunteers on driving-simulator computer machines. They showed that people were adversely affected in their driving skills by taking mild amounts of marijuana before tests.
Mr Moore: No, by taking quite large amounts of marijuana.
MR STEVENSON: No, minor amounts.
Mr Moore: No, large amounts. In this committee report you will find - - -
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