Page 1248 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
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This Bill allows for an independent medical examination to be part of a woman's application to participate as a boxer in a boxing contest. This is in accord with the Government's stated gender equity policies. Madam Speaker, the Bill - - -
Mr Kaine: Would you approve an application if you got one?
MR BERRY: I have said, and I will say it again, that the Bill does not have any effect on any other martial arts activities so long as they are not used to hide de facto kick boxing contests.
Mr Kaine: Says you.
MR BERRY: I will repeat that, Madam Speaker. This Bill will not have an effect on other martial arts so long as they are not used to hide de facto kick boxing contests.
Mr Moore: That is not what the Bill says. It is written in plain English.
Mr De Domenico: What is a de facto kick boxing contest? That could be a martial art. It is the same definition as a martial art.
MR BERRY: It is clearly spelled out in the long title of the Bill. The Bill specifies a legislative regime to control boxing - not rugby, not swimming, not tae kwon do, or other martial arts, but boxing. It is clear. So let us not try that red herring that Mr Humphries has tried on, because it is just not worth arguing about.
It has in the past been noticeable that the Opposition and the media have chosen to ignore the positive advancements contained in the Bill rather than to focus on our efforts to get rid of a violent sport in the community. The Government is very concerned at the impact on young people and on the community in general if a particularly violent activity such as kick boxing is sanctioned as a sport. We looked at recent television and theatre guides which showed many feature movies depicting ultraviolent displays of kick boxing, with heroes of the most aggressive and dangerous nature.
Mr Cornwell: The Bill is not going to do much to stop those.
Mr Connolly: No; the Bill on Thursday will, though.
MR BERRY: The Bill on Thursday, the MA Bill, which you will support - - -
Mrs Carnell: You mean that people over 15 do not - - -
MR BERRY: Which you will support; that is where the double-dealing comes in. The dubious double over here will support those sorts of things. This is a whole range of doublespeak. We are also aware of kick boxing contests being conducted in hotels and clubs as part of the night's entertainment. It is just not on that we should encourage the attitudes and behaviour demonstrated in the depictions and realities of this sport.
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