Page 3840 - Week 14 - Thursday, 10 December 1992
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Mr Moore: It has no relevance.
MR STEVENSON: The other thing is that we understand that there are many cases around - - -
Mr Connolly: They would have killed Lindy Chamberlain.
MR STEVENSON: I will put the sound system out again if they are not careful.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, you do not need to raise your voice if another person interjects. I remind members yet again of standing order 39. We heard other members in silence. We will hear Mr Stevenson in silence. You do not need to shout, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: That is not shouting, Madam Speaker; that is just raising my voice. No-one here has heard me shout as a wearer of the red sash in the Army. Look at the number of cases where someone has been sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering someone. One of the big problems we have in Australia at the moment - it has been brought up by members of VOCAL - is that people feel that just punishment has not been meted out to someone who has killed. It is interesting that we read in the papers throughout Australia almost daily of someone who has killed, been released from gaol after his sentence has been commuted and then gone and done the same again.
It is interesting that we have just passed the Bail Bill. We are trying to protect people from domestic violence. The death penalty is a valid question, and there should be open debate of the question. Those people who decry open debate in this society should remember what Snowball said in Animal Farm. We should have open debate. When members want to discuss things, other members should hold their counsel until they get the opportunity to stand and make some statements.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.51 pm until Tuesday, 15 December 1992, at 2.30 pm
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