Page 3806 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 8 November 1994
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A direct broadcast that is unedited is vital. It would be beneficial, to get around the censorship that we find a daily matter in our communities. We have talked about television; but one does not have to see what is being said, provided one knows what is being said. One could hear that on radio. It does not have to be visual - - -
Mr Moore: We would not be able to see your hand movements, Dennis.
MR STEVENSON: That is true.
Mr Kaine: Which radio station has volunteered to do this?
MR STEVENSON: It is a good question. Mr Kaine asks which radio station has volunteered to do this. If I had one, I would volunteer. It is a wonderful idea. I fully support Mr Moore on it. If we had some creative thinking it probably would not be that difficult a situation. Community radio is available in Canberra. We fund community radio. 2XX is one of the most biased media organs around the place. I well remember prior to the first election for this Assembly going along and wanting to present some viewpoints about self-government. I was in contact with more than one person. I was told in no uncertain terms that they support self-government and they will not have me presenting any argument against it.
Mr Kaine: A good decision, Dennis.
MR STEVENSON: I can well understand your viewpoint, Mr Kaine. Perhaps some close to you do not hold it. Community radio would be an ideal avenue to broadcast live and unedited. After all, that is the cheapest way of doing it. Trying to edit it would cost money. It would be so much better if people could see the colours that we are wearing, the ties we have on, our mannerisms, whether we are looking the camera straight in the eye, et cetera. Why not give it to the public television in Canberra that I imagine will soon be broadcasting? If we contacted the people who are pushing for public television in Canberra, I think they would be more than inclined to take on such a proposal. There is still a lot of time left. Over the year we do not sit for a great number of hours or a great number of days, and I think that it would be beneficial for those reasons.
It is not only beneficial to people from the purely political view. What about the schoolchildren? I did not hear anyone mention that point, although it may have been raised. We run the Youth Parliament. I would like to see it run a little bit differently, upon more parliamentary lines, more democratic lines; nevertheless, we run the Youth Parliament. Students could have this Assembly televised directly into schools. Mr Wood would probably find that - - -
Mr De Domenico: You can see how popular it is with the live audience behind you.
MR STEVENSON: It is a valid point that Mr De Domenico makes. There is not one member of the public in the gallery. It is not for the want of being told. We tell people again and again. I hear that down at Speakers Corner someone is often recommending - it is not me; I have not been down there every time - that people come to the Assembly and have a look at what is going on here. I think that is a good idea.
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