Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Tuesday, 10 February 2004) . . Page.. 138 ..

than fairness or enacting good laws. It is obvious that government members will not support this sensible amendment. They have their own convoluted ideas for not doing so. They are making a simple amendment needlessly complex.

On the basis of what government members are saying, it would be far more logical if we adopted the Western Australian legislation and deleted paragraphs (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) from section 19 subsection (2) of the Adoption Act. If the government does not do that it would be eminently sensible if it agreed to my amendment.

Ms Dundas referred earlier to Western Australian legislation, which has been in place for some time. While wading through a lot of information relating to this issue I recall reading something about reverse discrimination. Some agencies are scared about not sending kids to same-sex couples. They fear that they might be branded as being discriminatory. That is something that should be avoided here. I accept that my proposed amendment is quite different from the provisions in the Western Australian legislation. However, it is consistent with what was referred to earlier in debate and with what has been referred to in the detail stage.

It is obvious that my amendment will be defeated and that this bill will become law. However, I commend my amendment to members. This government has not removed discrimination in the ACT. By not voting for my amendment it will be adding to discrimination in this territory. I will not plead with members to vote for my amendment as I know that they will not change their minds.

Question put:

That Mr Stefaniak’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Question put:

That the bill, as a whole, be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .