Pegielnf &Esemblg

pegielnf &esemblg Wednesday, 12 September, 1984 Mr Speaker (The Hon. Lawrence Borthwick Kelly) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. PETITIONS The Clerk announced that the following petitions had been lodged for presentation: Homosexual Laws The humble Petition of citizens of Australia, New South Wales, respectfully sheweth: That we urge the immediate repeal of Mr Wran's private member's bill to amend the Crimes Act, for the following reasons. Mr Wran's bill, which deals with serious social, legal, moral and religious issues, was rushed through Parliament without adequate community debate concerning its far-reaching implications, as stated by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, who said, "Notwithstanding the very sensitive nature of the issue, provision was not made for adequate community discussion of the bill's implications." This was published in the Catholic Weekly of 23rd May, 1984. There was no widespread community support for Mr Wran's bill: in fact, the opposite is true, as is testified by many members of Parlia- ment who received hundreds of opposing letters and petitions, and not one supporting letter. The main effects of Mr Wran's bill, that is, the legalization of sodomy for males over 18 years, in private, and in public, and the legalization of adult male soliciting, are a serious threat to public morals and health, and not in the public interest. Mr Wran's public threats to remove the conscience vote clearly undermined the historic right of members of Parliament to exercise their conscience vote on a private member's bill dealing with the controversial issue of homosexual acts. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will take urgent steps to repeal Mr Wran's private member's bill to amend the Crimes Act. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petitions, lodged by Mr Beck, Mr Davoren and Mr Rogan, received. Petitions-12 September, 1984 735 X-rated Video Cassettes The Petition of concerned citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That it is the right of adult citizens to see, hear, view or watch any material that the Australian Government see fit to classify and allows to be imported into thih country, and that the rights of adult citizens of New South Wales should not be limited as against citizens of Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Legislation to ban the sale of X-rated videos will not protect minors from such material, and their very illegality will make such material more interesting and attractive to them. Any film which can be shown in public should be available for viewing by adults in the privacy of their homes. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will take no steps to ban X-rated videos and that legislation should be uniform throughout Australia, after consideration of the report of the Select Committee of the Australian Parliament into the classification of films. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr McGowan, received. Moral Standards The humble Petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia, New Scuth Wales, respectfully sheweth: That we, the undersigned, having great concern because of the spread of moral pollution in our State call upon the Government to introduce immediate legislation: (1) To provide strict controls over video cassettes with the open sale of only G-, NRC- and M-rated video cassettes so that R-rated films can only be viewed in an adult theatre by persons over 18 years of age. We totally reject the concept of X-rated video cassettes which would allow the legal sale of hard-core pornographic films for screening in the homes of our nation. (2) To tighten up the standards used by the New South Wales Indecent Publications Classification Board so as to include the total pro- hibition of any pornographic publication, video cassette, or film containing child pornography, bestiality, sodomy or violent sex acts against women, such as rape and pack rape, sadism and torture, et cetera. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will protect our society, especially women and children, from moral pollution and its harmful effects. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petitions, lodged by Mr Amery, Mr Bannon, Mr Beck, Mr Caterson, Mr J. A. Clough, Mr Crawford, Mr Cruickshank, Mr Greiner, Mr Hatton, Mr Jackson, Mr Landa, Mr Langton, Mr Mack, Dr Metherell, Mr Park, Mr Peacocke, Mr Phillips, Mr Price, Dr Refshauge, Mr Rogan, Mr Schipp, Mi- Sheahan, Mr Webster, Mr West, Mr Whelan and Mr Yabsley, received. Recyclable Resources The Petition of concerned citizens of New South Wales respectfully sheweth: That for the removal of sewage pollution from our beaches, the rehabilitation of impoverished soils, the careful use of our resources and for the maintenance of the health 01 our citizens, measures be taken to put an end to the waste of our recyclable resources so that our used water is treated, purified and recycled for maximum use; so that our sewage, sludge and selected garbage is combined to make hygienic soil improving compost; and so that this compost is available for sale and use on farms and gardens. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will take all steps necessary to set up a commission of inquiry to determine the best methods of accom- plishing the above. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petitions, lodged by Mr Beck, Mr Cleary, Mr Davoren, Mr Greiner, Mr Mack, Mr Neilly, Mr Peacocke, Mr Petersen. Mr Price, Dr Refshauge, Mr Rogan, Mr Smith and Mr Webster, received. School Staffing The Petition of Manly-Warringah district council of the parents and citizens' association respectfully sheweth: That the Department of Education should urgently carry out a review of its staffing policy to ensure that the system of staff alloca- ti011 satisfies the educational and administrative needs of individual schools. rather than the present practice of continually reducing staff levels by using a strict number formula. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House will ensure that the Department of Education takes the above action. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition. lodged by Dr Metherell, received. Moral Standards The Petition of members of the congregation of St Saviour's Anglican Church, Canterbury Road, Punchbowl, New South Wales, respectfully sheweth: That we have great concern over the decline and decay of moral standards in the State of New South Wales and call upon the Govern- ment to make immediate amendments to the Indecent Articles and Classified Publications Act; to find the guidelines for classification of videotapes or discs for sale or hire, as set out by the Film Censorship Board, completely and totally unacceptable; to prohibit the sale, hire, screening and possession of all videotapes or discs coming under the X classification; to prohibit the sale or hire of videotapes or discs coming under the R classification and to prohibit from sale or hire videotapes Petitions-Questions without Notice-12 September, 1984 737 or discs containing material depicting acts of rape, acts of homosexuality, the use of hard drugs, gratuitous violence, sexual or otherwise, whether they be discreet or not. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourablc House will look after the spiritual welfare of every man, woman and child, foster a high moral standard in our society, and protect us from this immoral material. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Petition, lodged by Mr Davoren, received. Homosexuality at the Australian Broadcasting Cornmission The humble Petition of citizens and residents of Australia respectfully sheweth: That we support your efforts to strengthen family life and protect marriage under God's holy word. Therefore, we wish to register our firm opposition to the ABC decision to recognize partners of homosexual staff as being equal to marriagc partners of heterosexuals. We are horrified that the ABC felt it could offend the accepted community standards with impunity, and use taxpayers' money to do so. This perk is thc inevitable immoral consequence of the decriminalization of homosexual behaviour, which we firmly denounce according to God's word. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray: That your honourable House and the Law Reform Commission will take appropriate measures against the arrogance of the ABC by rudely disgracing the public in their inconsiderate action. Petition, lodged by Mr H. F. Moore, received. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES Mr GREINER: My question is addressed to the Premier and Minister for the Arts in the absence of the Attorney General. As the Attorney General has criticized Mr Briese and his deputies for saying they were unwilling to give evidence to disciplinary hearings against certain magistrates, will the Premier say under what sections of the Public Service Act and on what charges it was recommended to proceed against magistrates who were unsuitable? What reasons did the three senior magistrates give for not providing evidence in these cases? Was their advice provided in writing, and, if so, will the Attorney General table the correspondence in order to refute the unfair suggestions that their refusal was in any way improper. Mr WRAN: I shall refer that question to the Attorney General, who wi return to the House as soon as he is well. No doubt he will give a complete answer. MEDICARE Mr MAIR: Is the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health aware of a statement made in Albury recently by the Deputy Leader of the federal Liberal Party to the effect that if elected to government his party would abolish Medicare? 47 738 ASSEMBLY-Questions without Notice Mr Singleton: Dr Blewett will be able to have the doctor of his choice.

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