Page 4291 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993
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I regard the actions of the Liberals as hypocritical in the extreme. I do not think it is acceptable to attempt to ban any industry by using a tax regime. At this time, whilst the Government had considered, in conjunction with all the other States and the Commonwealth, what action might be necessary had the High Court struck down all of those taxes, we have not yet considered what action we might take, if any, in view of the fact that only the Alliance Government's X video tax has now been struck down.
MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. The Chief Minister refers to the Liberal Party banning this product by taxation. I remind the Chief Minister that, when she had an opportunity to vote on banning this product by other means, she took the negative view. Since she did so and since there is no revenue collectable on this commodity and it contributes nothing of value to this community, what does the Chief Minister intend to do to bring the Territory into line with every other State and Territory of this country and ban it outright?
MS FOLLETT: Unlike members opposite, the Government will be maintaining a consistent stance on this matter. To answer Mr Kaine's question, we will not be acting to ban this industry. He is also quite wrong in saying that the industry contributes nothing. They still do contribute their $50 a month by way of licence fees, and they will certainly be continuing to do that. Near enough is good enough for the Liberal Party, obviously.
Mr Kaine: A whole $50 a month. Wow! Why did you not answer my question? I asked you what you were going to do to ban it.
MS FOLLETT: I am not going to.
Women's National Confest
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is also to the Chief Minister, Ms Follett, in her capacity as Minister responsible for women's affairs. I let the Chief Minister know earlier today that I would be asking her this question this afternoon.
Mr Cornwell: Then it is not a question without notice.
MS SZUTY: It is because I want an answer, Mr Cornwell. That is the object of the exercise. A national confest for women and girl survivors of incest, ritual abuse and childhood sexual assault is being planned to be held in Canberra at the Australian National University on 29 and 30 April and 1 May next year. I have been informed by the confest planning collective that the confest has been rejected for funding by both the Office of the Status of Women and the ACT Government. I ask the Chief Minister: On what grounds was funding for the confest rejected and is the ACT Government currently considering alternative means by which it might support the event?
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