Page 404 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 7 March 2006
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protections for the unborn removed. Of course they would not do that for those other cases that I have just outlined. There is an inconsistency there. There is an illogicality there, and we question that illogicality. Perhaps the reasons are purely ideological.
I go to the point that the Chief Minister made before about the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, the pinnacle of legal officers. Perhaps the legal officers have got their own agenda, because certainly over the last couple of years we have had broad legal opinion that the law on which this particular amendment that we put up earlier was based, and the need for you to have that protection in place, which you are now seeking to amend out, is absolutely reliable. It should have been kept in place. It is a pity, of course, that the Greens have also rolled over all the way with the civil liberties council of Australia and the Chief Minister, unfortunately purely along ideological lines.
Let me also say, incidentally, that I absolutely appreciate and respect the scenario painted by Dr Foskey earlier. She talked of the way that she felt during her pregnancy, the way that she would have assessed her own condition and what that means. We entirely respect that. She has clearly had her own experiences in life.
Can I also point out to Dr Foskey that there are a hell of a lot of women who are pregnant and who look upon their pregnancy in a different way. They would look at their unborn and say, “My little kid is kicking.” If they happened to know, they would say, “My little boy” or “My little girl is kicking and giving me comfort tonight.” That is how people view it. Everybody has a different approach. Everybody’s different approach can be respected. Let me also point out to Dr Foskey that there are many women in this society of ours who look upon their pregnancy in a very lively way. We are very, very disappointed that the Attorney-General has weakened his already weak legislation even further. Of course we will not support his amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 18, as amended, agreed to.
Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2005 (No 2)
Debate resumed from 15 December 2005, on motion by Mr Stanhope:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (5.28): On behalf of the Liberal opposition, I rise today to support the government’s amendments to the act, which are in line with recommendations arising from the Vardon and Murray reports. The opposition believes that it is important to allow the government and, particularly, service providers to have the opportunity to put into practice the key tenets of these amendments, with the hope that in procedural terms they will allow for a smoother delivery of the intent and the application of the act.
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