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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2938 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

laws which have been introduced by stealth, and in collaboration, by certain parties in this place; and the amendments that have been drawn up overnight, which some of us received as late as midday today, and the amendments that have been drawn up since, to legislation which impacts on the right of a woman to choose, which limits pro-choice. This law imposes on women our choices as legislators.

I think it will also expose the frailty of the Right to Life Association in relation to this matter. I cannot understand how they could support this legislation. I listened to Bill Stefaniak earlier and, according to him, it actually allows terminations. Which terminations does the Right to Life Association support? Does it support terminations under this Bill? I noted earlier that the Right to Life Association did not support the Osborne Bill, yet it was more explicit in relation to terminations. The Right to Life Association of Australia - - -

Mr Osborne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker - - -

MR BERRY: You will get your chance.

Mr Osborne: Is he going to stand up, or is he going to sit down?

MR SPEAKER: Sit down, Mr Berry.

Mr Osborne: I think Mr Berry may have inadvertently misled the Assembly there, because certain elements of Right to Life Australia did not support the original Bill, but I believe the ACT branch of Right to Life did, Mr Speaker.

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mr Osborne is debating the issue.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Mr Osborne.

Mr Osborne: Mr Speaker, could you give me a call when it is my turn to speak, because I am finding it very hard to keep my eyes open.

MR SPEAKER: I will most certainly do so, Mr Osborne. You will have the opportunity.

Mr Osborne: I am falling asleep over here listening to him, Mr Speaker.

MR BERRY: If I can get a little bit of an extension here I will try to make it a bit more up-beat to keep you awake. I know that it is after your bedtime. I seek a short extension, Mr Speaker.

Mr Humphries: You have had 10 minutes, Wayne, to make your point. You are just repeating yourself.

MR SPEAKER: You cannot have an extension until your time has run out, actually. It has now.

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