Page 1243 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
We come down to clause 20, which is the clause that so much attention is being given to. I am not sure that it actually bans kick boxing. I think it could probably ban every other martial art that ever existed, but interestingly enough I am not sure that it bans kick boxing. It says:
A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, engage or participate in a boxing contest -
I just stop there for a moment. The key word there is "boxing". The definition of "boxing" in the Bill states:
"boxing" means fist fighting or any other style of fighting -
and here are the key words -
(other than kick boxing) -
so we take kick boxing and we put it aside; it is not in it -
in relation to which a class of boxers is prescribed under the New South Wales Act and includes sparring and any such style;
The definition says that kick boxing is not included, so we go back to clause 20 and we read:
A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, engage or participate in a boxing contest -
it does not include kick boxing -
in which a foot or any other part of the leg of a contestant may be used to strike his or her opponent.
It was suggested to me that if you wanted the definition of "boxing" as used in clause 20 you should not look in the definitions at the front of the Bill. That makes sense. It makes as much sense as a lot of these things do. Not having legal training, I would go to the definitions, as I did. I looked at the definition of "boxing" and I realised that it did not mean kick boxing. So, whatever is banned in clause 20, according to the definition it is not kick boxing, but because the clause talks about "foot or other part of the leg" obviously it brings in all the rest. Kick boxing is safe. I could sit down now if I were worried only about kick boxing but - - -
Mrs Grassby: Why don't you?
MR STEVENSON: Because, Mrs Grassby, what we have is even more interesting. That is why I do not sit down just yet.
Mrs Grassby: It might be to you; it is not to me. I think it is boring.
MR STEVENSON: I do not think that requires comment. The definition of boxing states:
... in relation to which a class of boxers is prescribed under the New South Wales Act ...
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .