Page 377 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 2 March 1994
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someone to rent the granny flat behind her house and decides that she would prefer to take so-and-so because she is a widow like herself rather than Miss X, who happens to be a sex worker, it can be very hard to explain to Mrs Jones, "I am sorry. You cannot discriminate against Miss X merely because she is a sex worker". That is going to be a difficult set of circumstances. That is what the legislation does. Nonetheless, I think we agree that in the circumstances of discrimination one should not take those sorts of matters into account unless there is good reason to do so. I think that we will have to cross those bridges as we come to them.
The legislation makes a quite reasonable extension to the circumstances in which discrimination is illegal and I hope, therefore, that it will be supported by the house. At the same time we should remain vigilant for ways in which the legislation might be applied in unintended circumstances in the future and should at that time be prepared to come back and look at amendments if required.
MS SZUTY (11.28): I welcome the comments made this morning by the Attorney-General and by Mr Humphries about the amendment to the Discrimination Act proposed by my colleague Mr Moore. As the Attorney-General said, it is a very sensible amendment. I welcome the fact that Mr Moore has had some discussions with the Attorney-General and that they have been able to come up with some further amendments which I believe Mr Moore finds acceptable. I also note the Attorney-General's comments about this debate extending the debate that we had last week on the Discrimination (Amendment) Bill (No. 3). At that time, we debated very extensively amendments to the Act which will as far as possible prevent discrimination on the basis of age. I also welcome Mr Humphries's comments on this Bill. He has spoken fairly eloquently about the changes that are likely for people affected by this Bill. I welcome his support for my colleague's legislation.
MR MOORE (11.29), in reply: Madam Speaker, it is a very positive thing when the Assembly works in a cooperative way to achieve something for the benefit of the people of Canberra. That is what is happening here. Nevertheless, when we deal with the issue of prostitution, we have a long way to go in our community before people refrain from discrimination. Although we can pass laws and we can attempt to set the tone by those laws, there is still a great deal to be done if we are to reach a common understanding in our general attitudes.
Madam Speaker, I spoke to the point of order before and talked about the fact that I have gone in and out both doors of brothels and so forth. As a member of the Select Committee on HIV, Illegal Drugs and Prostitution, that is exactly what I did. Personally, brothels are not my form of entertainment or release; nevertheless, I accept that they are going to be part and parcel of our society, and the people who decide to work there ought not to be subjected to discrimination in any other ways. I think that is what everybody has accepted. By this legislation, we extend that concept to any workers. In a moment of levity, Mr Connolly talked about prostitutes, politicians and journalists. At the time I wondered about which one of those professions was the oldest of the professions.
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