Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1974 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Matters of Public Interest [10 OCTOBER 1974] Personal Explanation 1199 THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1974 Mr. ACTING SPEAKER {Mr. W. D. Lickiss, Mt. Coot-tha) read prayers and took the chair at 11 a.m. PAPERS The following paper was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:- Report of the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs for the year 1973-74. The following paper was laid on the table:- Report of the Chairwoman of the Con­ sumer Affairs Council for the ,six months ended June 30, 1974. PERSONAL E~PLANATION Mr. WRIGHT (Rockhampton) (11.2 a.m.), by leave: When answering 'a question on abortion from the honourable member for Ithaca yesterday, the Minister for Justice said- "The decision made by the A.L.P. con­ vention in Cairns proposed by Mr. Gardiner and seconded by the honourable member for Rockhampton is nothing short of providing 'abortion on demand'." Mr. Aotring Speaker, I take strong personal exception 'to this statement by the Minister for Justice because, firstly, it is totally un­ true, and, secondly, it abuses the privileges of this Assembly and is unbecoming the high and honourable office of Attorney-General. Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member will make his personal explanation; he will not engage in padding. Mr. WRIGHT: A resolution "that l'Ull ref­ erence to abortion be deleted from the Crim­ inal Code of the State" was carried at the A.L.P. Cairns convention but, as this con­ flicts with A.L.P. Federal policy, the con­ vention also endorsed the following motion, which I seconded:- "This Convention notes that one of the bases of a democratic society is that the law of that society should be certain and easily understood. "It further notes that there is consider­ able uncertainty, as expressed by medical practitioners and by the public in general, as to what constitutes a lawful termination of a pregnancy by a medical practitioner. "The codification of the law with respect to abortion and the terminology used has led to this uncertain situation. Therefore, it is the decision of this Convention that a State Labor Government declare clear guide-lines with respect to what is a lawful termination of a pregnancy by a medical practitioner under the present law. 1200 Personal Explanation [10 OCTOBER 1974] Personal Explanation "Through the Attorney-General of the Mr. AIKENS: Mr. Acting Speaker-­ State, the Crown Law Officers would be instructed to prosecurte the abortion o:ffem.­ Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The ces except in the following circum­ honourable member for Townsville South stances:- will resume his seat. The Minister for Where the medical practitioner hon­ Justice has claimed that a certain remark estly believes on reasonable grounds that made by the honourable member for Rock­ the aot of terminating the pregnancy- hampton is offensive to him. The honour­ able member for Rockhampton will withdraw {a) was necessary to preserve the the remark. woman from a serious danger to her life or her physical or mental health Mr. WRIGHT: I withdraw the word "dis­ (not being merely the normal dangers honest", and substitute "untrue". of pregnancy and childbirth), which continuance of the pregnancy would Mr. KNOX: Mr. Acting Speaker, I crave entail; and your protection in this matter. I ask that (b) in the circumstances of the case the remark be withdrawn unreservedly. and the state of the patient at the time were not out of proportion to Honourable Members interjected. the danger to be averted." Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! I do not Mr. FRAWLEY: I rise to a point of intend reminding the House again that points order. of order and denials will be heard in silence. My comments apply ·to both sides of the Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! There House. should be no point of order during a per­ sonal explanation. Mr. KNOX: I ask that the honourable member for Rockhampton withdraw the Mr. WRIGHT: The resolution oontinued- remark unreservedly. "By setting out these criteria, ·the public and, in particular, medical practitioners Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! I ask the woruld be certain as to what the present Minister to be more specific. law is." Mr. KNOX: The honourable member for Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Would Rockhampton concluded his explanation by the honourable member come to his personal claiming that I had been dishonest. I ask explanation. He is making a speech. that that comment be withdrawn because it is personally objectionable to me. He has Mr. WRIGHT: To continue- withdrawn the word "dishonest" and sub­ "Lt also removes the taint of criminality stituted "untrue". To my mind that is merely from women who require lawful thera­ a qualification of his withdrawal. peutic 'termination of pregnancies." Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The hon­ Mr. R. E. MOORE: I rise to a point of ourable member for Rockhampton will order. withdraw the remark that the Minister for Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The hon­ Justice has claimed is offensive to him. ourable member for Rockhampton is making Mr. WRIGHT: I regret that it is offensive a personal explanation, and I will be the judge of its merits. to the Minister, but the remarks were untrue, and I find myself in an invidious position. Mr. WRIGHT: I point out, Mr. Acting Speaker, that I am compelled to read the Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The motion in full, because the Minister-- honourable member will withdraw the offen­ sive remark. Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: The honour­ able member will continue. Mr. WRIGHT: If the Minister finds my remark abhorrent to him, I withdraw it. Mr. WRIGHT: In conclusion-my views Mr. Hodges: There should be no against abortion on demand have been voiced qualification. previously in this Chamber, and I decry this dishonest attempt by rthe Minister for Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! I do Justice to smear my reputation. not want any advice from the front bench on my right. Mr. KNOX: I rise to a point of order. The concluding remark of the honourable Mr. AIKENS: I rise to a point of order. member for Rockhampton is a reflection on The honourable member for Rockhampton me. I object lto it and ask that it be has read what he claims to be an excerpt withdrawn. from .the minutes of .the Labor-in-Politics Honourable Members interjected. Convention in Cairns. In acoordance with previous rulings he must table the whole of Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The the minutes. He manufactured ,that particular House will come to order. minute just to gain favourable publicity. Questions Upon Notice [10 OCTOBER 1974] Questions Upon Notice 1201 Mr. ACTING SPEAKER: Order! There TOWNSVILLE CHARGES AGAINST T.A.B. is no point of order. .ADMINISTRATION Mr. Aikens, pursuant to notice, asked The QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE Treasurer,- MASSAGE PARLOURS AND PROSECUTIONS With reference to the recent publication FOR PROSTITUTION in The Townsville Daily Bulletin of attacks on the Totalisator Administration Mr. Tucker, pursuant to notice, asked The Board charging the board with mismanage­ Minister for Works,- ment, amongst oilier things, as I have not seen a reply by tlte T.A.B. to the charges, (1) For each year since July 1, 1971, why has no reply been made? how many prosecutions have been launched on charges of prostitution? Answer:- (2) Were most of the charges associated "I have discussed with the Chairman with all~ged massage parlours, or what of the Totalisator Administration Board, other Circumstances gave rise to the Sir Albert Sakzewski, and Sir Douglas prosecutions? Wadley (Executive Committee Member) the accusations made by Dr. L. Halber­ Answers:- stater and Mr. A. G. Field (Chairman and Treasurer respectively of the Towns­ (1) "1971-72, 50; 1972-73, 42; and ville Turf Club) of mismanagement of 1973-74, 78." the affairs of the Totalisator Administration (2) "These offences are categorised as Board of Queensland and also tlte other follows:- charges made and cannot find any grounds for the daims made by the club official,s. 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 I have also had handed to me by Sir ------1--------- Albert Sakzewski a copy of an open letter to the Townsville Turf Club written by Offences of prostitution involving massage par- Sir Albert on behalf of the Totalisator lours . 9 7 58 Administration Board and forwarded to the editor of The Townsville Daily Bulletin Keep premises for prosti~ tution (excluding mas- for publication. However, as I understand, sage parlours) __ 5 Nil the letter has not been published, I attach Live off earnings of pros- the copy hereto and ask that it be included titution _. 2 2 in Hansard as part of my Answer to the Honourable Member's Question so that Solicit for imn1oral pur- poses .. 34 30 17" 'the full facts in relation to the charges made will be available to persons inter­ ested in the racing industry and the public generally." LAND ON ISLANDS IN REDLAND SIDRE OPEN LETTER TO TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB Mr. Bousen, pursuant to notice, asked The "The attention of the Board has been Minister for Justice,- drawn to an article which appeared in the Referring to Questions asked in con­ Townsville Daily Bulletin dealing with the nection with sales of building sites on report of the Townsville Turf Club Corn· Russell, Karragarra and Macleay Islands- mittee at their Annual General Meeting. In the early portion of this article the ( 1 ) Who were the owners of the land President, Dr. Les Halberstater, said it as at June 30, 1970? appeared obvious that there had been (2) When was the land sold, to whom, some mismanagement in the T.A.B.