Page 1271 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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services for men, in some form approved and supported hopefully by a wide cross-section of the community. The person who interrupted the chamber proceedings graphically demonstrated his emotional concern. I am familiar with that person. Members may not be aware, but he has spent long periods in this chamber at other times sitting over there in the corner watching me, and at the moment his interest also extends, regrettably, to Ms Maher.
The outcome of the concerns that are being raised by another group, who use the title "The Lone Parents", is that a number of negative comments are being made about this Government's approach to men's concerns in this issue. In fact, some quite inflammatory comments have been made recently about the fact that the Government and, in particular, I are pursuing only the concerns of the so-called or alleged feminists in this debate.
I think this is an appropriate time for me to indicate to that association, in particular, their spokesperson, Mr Barry Williams, that the outcome at times of those statements is to focus resentment, threaten violence - and I will not go into those details - and raise other concerns by the people who take up the alleged preoccupation of this Government with feminist concerns in the domestic violence debate.
Mr Speaker, this particular person who interrupted the chamber proceedings to my knowledge has involved - and I will not go into detail - an allocation of protection resources to this Assembly.
Mr Berry: Dirt throwing and conspiracy theories again.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Berry does not appreciate the topic that I have raised, Mr Speaker. The Government is currently looking in the budget context at the services that we can offer to men who exhibit the symptoms which we saw in this chamber today. Mr Speaker, I am hopeful that we can, with the support of the community, deal with that aspect of this very great concern in the community.
Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, I request that any further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Department of Justice and Community Services - Equal Employment Opportunity Plan
MR KAINE: On 21 March the Leader of the Opposition asked me a question that had to do with the status within the Department of Justice and Community Services of equal employment opportunity plans, and when the plans for that agency would be available to the Assembly. I took that question on notice because at that time I did not know what the situation was.
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