Page 3839 - Week 14 - Thursday, 10 December 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Death Penalty
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (4.45): I certainly warmly endorse and echo Mr Humphries's comments. It is very significant that the Amnesty International vigil outside the American Embassy last night was attended by Mr Humphries, representing the Liberal Party, and me, representing the Labor Party. It was a very peaceful candlelight vigil. This afternoon, on behalf of Amnesty, I presented a letter setting out our concerns. It mentioned that Mr Bunch was due to be executed today. I think it should also be borne in mind by members that Mr Bunch has been on death row for over 10 years. The horror of someone knowing every morning for 10 years that there is a warrant of execution hanging over his head really makes one focus on the barbarity of the death sentence.
Mr Humphries made the point that attempts by the United States to pursue human rights around the world - a very laudable effort - are compromised by its stance on the death penalty and that repressive governments that execute political prisoners take comfort in saying, "The United States uses the death penalty, so it cannot be that bad". That is a very important point. It is a point that I made to the representative of the United States Government when I handed that letter over.
Death Penalty
MR MOORE (4.46): I echo the comments made by Mr Humphries and Mr Connolly about the death penalty. There are some people who say, "Well, that person has killed somebody else and deserves to die himself". I think clarification is needed. It seems to me that there is no point in governments of the world - our government or any other government - lowering themselves to the standards of those criminals. Such barbaric punishment is entirely inappropriate.
Death Penalty
MR STEVENSON (4.47): Comments this afternoon raise some interesting issues about the death penalty. It could well be that the majority of people in Australia agree with the death penalty.
Mrs Grassby: You might, Dennis.
MR STEVENSON: I do not necessarily hold a view one way or the other, but I think it is worthwhile debating the issue. If members opposite would quieten themselves down for a minute or two, I might be able to mention a point. We might well look at why someone has been given the death penalty. It is probably worthwhile saying that they have killed someone.
Mr Moore: So, let us lower ourselves to their standard. That is the way, yes.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Moore, when you spoke, I let you speak. We should look at what the convicted person did. When other comments were made, this was not brought up. It perhaps has some relevance.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .