X-Message-Number: 7102
Date: Sat, 02 Nov 1996 10:32:01 -0700
From: David Brandt-Erichsen <>
Subject: Australia update

The following article by Gabrielle Chan, Andrew McGarry and Maria Ceresa
appeared in The Australian newspaper November 1.

COALITION THREAT TO GAG DEATH BILL DEBATE

The Federal Government has threatened to force an early vote and refuse
members the right to speak on the anti-euthanasia Bill after Opposition
members tried to disrupt the debate yesterday.

Labor has opposed the Government's move to hold the debate in the secondary
chamber of the Parliament and tried for the third time to move it back to
the main chamber yesterday.

When Opposition front-bencher Mr Mark Latham refused an order to leave the
Main Committee, he told Deputy Speaker Mr Garry Nehl: "Put that in your pipe
and smoke it".

The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Mr Stone, described federal MPs who
were determined to overturn the Territory's euthanasia law as "bastards and
bitches".

"They are being bastards and bitches," Mr Stone said yesterday.

"You might think it is strong words to use, but this goes to the very heart
of what the Territory is all about. People feel very, very strongly about
this issue."

The events unfolded as the Parliament attempted to debate the private
members Bill, put by the Victorian Liberal backbencher, Mr Kevin Andrews,
which would strike down the NT Rights of the Terminally Ill Act.

The Bill, which has the support of the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, the Leader
of the Opposition, Mr Beazley and the leader of the National Party and
Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Fischer, is expected to pass in the House of
Representatives. However, its passage through the Senate is less certain.

The Government whip, Ms Trish Worth, said that if the Opposition continued
using "guerilla tactics" to stall the debate, members could be forced to
vote without speaking.

"If this was to persist next week, with these guerilla tactics, it could
well mean that members will be asked to vote on this issue without having
the opportunity to speak on it," Ms Worth said.

The Government had relegated the Bill to the Main Committee so that it would
not interfere with Government business.

The debate will continue on Wednesday next week aft Mr Nehl stopped the
proceedings yesterday in order to report Mr Latham's behavour to the House.

Mr Nehl was trying to maintain order during the debate when Mr Latham said:
"We can do whatever we like. I could do a tap dance in the middle if I
wanted to. The are no procedures here."

Under rules governing debate in the secondary chamber, members cannot be
thrown out but their behaviour can be reported to the House in order for
suspension.

Although Mr Nehl said there was not sufficient disorder to warrant the
suspension, he went ahead with the move on the urging of former National
Party leader Mr Ian Sinclair.

Opposition backbencher Mr Stephen Smith, who will support the Andrews Bill,

said a debate of such national significance should be heard in the main chamber.

"The folly of the Government sending the debate on euthanasia off to the
sideshow alley that is the main committee was clearly demonstrated today,"
Mr Smith said.

The actions meant the 17 members listed to speak on the controversial Bill
were postponed until next week. A total of 68 members are listed to speak on
the concience vote.

Mr Stone, who returned to Darwin yesterday after four days in Canberra
lobbying members to vote against the Bill, said he told Mr Howard the
Commonwealth had shown "ultimate arrogance" in its approach.

Mr Stone said arguments that the Territory was "no bigger than a
municipality" and that "territories have responsibilities, not rights" were
made by "ignoramuses".


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