Page 3906 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 9 November 1994
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MS SZUTY: I could go into the circumstances of what happened in 1993. I do not propose to, because I have about three minutes left in which to speak on this matter; but I did speak at the time about the importance of the stability of government and not overturning a decision which the Assembly had comprehensively looked at some months before.
It will be a very sad situation for Mr Berry if a number of members of his own party are not prepared to uphold his wishes in relation to this private members Bill. I cannot conceive of a situation where I would bring on, or support a motion to bring on, a Bill initiated by my colleague, Mr Moore, without his consent; nor, I hope, would he ever envisage bringing on for debate, or supporting a motion to bring on for debate, a Bill of mine against my wishes. It seems to me, Madam Speaker, that a number of members of the Government believe that the issue of abortion will be off the agenda once Mr Berry's Crimes (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) of 1994 is debated and presumably defeated at this time. I believe that this certainly will not be the case. Mr Berry has been an advocate for women's rights in relation to abortion for many years, and there are certainly other members of this Assembly also who would be happy - in fact, more than happy - to embark on an election campaign supporting, and proudly supporting, a pro-choice position in relation to abortion.
Madam Speaker, I certainly hope that commonsense will prevail and we will not set an unfortunate precedent in this Assembly where a private members Bill is brought forward for debate without the agreement of the initiator of the Bill.
Mr De Domenico: You have already set the precedent.
MS SZUTY: As I have explained, Madam Speaker, they were entirely different circumstances on that occasion.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Heritage and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (10.52): Madam Speaker, Mr Berry ought to bring on his Bill. It is his Bill and his responsibility, not Mr Humphries's. That Mr Berry chooses to leave it on the notice paper is, first, a tactic to keep it on the agenda, and, secondly, an admission that he does not have the numbers to win; but it is necessary that the Bill be debated so that I and others may dispose of it, so that we may defeat it. Mr Berry, let us dispense with this Bill. Bring it on.
MR MOORE (10.52): Madam Speaker, Mr Humphries, in bringing on this motion, said that this is one of the most divisive Bills for the ACT. Nonsense! There is a small number of very vocal people who believe that this is very important. I have had a handful of letters - 40 or 50, or maybe a few more - from people within the ACT - - -
Mr De Domenico: I have had 580. I respond to anyone who takes the trouble of writing to me.
MR MOORE: Mr De Domenico interjects that he responds to them all. I respond to all of them from within the ACT, and I express my opinion very clearly. I have to argue, Madam Speaker, that the issue of urban infill, where neighbour goes against neighbour, is a much more divisive thing than this issue of abortion. I know that some people feel
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