Ms MARTIN - 1997-12-02
In the movie Hot Firemen, 2 male firefighters have sex after a dispute about rosters, 3 male firefighters have sex while training a new recruit, and 2 male firefighters have sex while waiting for a relief shift. In how many Territory fire stations does this sort of activity occur? If none, will the minister apologise to Territory firefighters and other Territorians for saying that this video ‘relates to the workplace which demonstrates that, even in the workplace, this is considered reasonable behaviour’?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is nice to see that the member for Fannie Bay is interested in these matters. The fact is that she completely misses the point. That is not strange to us because she does it all the time. She fails to grasp the nub of the question.
Members interjecting.
Ms Martin interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The movie was not directed at Northern Territory firemen or, for that matter, at any fire service.
Ms Martin: You said it was.
Mr REED: No, it is a demonstration of what could be portrayed ...
Ms Martin: You said it was.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, please listen.
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Mr REED: She does not listen. She is not listening even now. She is sitting there with a silly smirk on her face.
Mr Stone: Because she liked the movie.
Mr REED: Obviously, she is recalling some parts of the movie.
The purpose of the video was to enable me to demonstrate, in referring to these matters, that material is available that could be used by adults to demonstrate to young Territorians that ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Stone: Did you all watch the video?
Mr REED: They are not interested.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Stone: Did you all watch it?
Mr REED: Is that where you all were last night?
Mr Stone: Was it good?
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Madam Speaker, the point of the material ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The point of the material is that it could be used by an adult who wanted to influence someone in their mid-teens to demonstrate that that sort of behaviour is a normal practice in a workplace.
Mr Bailey: What 16-year-old or 18-year-old would believe that rubbish?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri clearly does not understand the sort of pressures that adults could bring to bear, and this is at a time when we have gone through a couple of years of very serious debate about ...
Mr Ah Kit: I suggest you ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Arnhem.
Mr REED: Incidents are being brought to light in relation to paedophilia by adults who have been in responsible positions, in charge of kids, or able to bring their influence to bear on them. In that context, with that argument raging over the last year or so, and some pretty horrific examples being presented of kids who have been taken advantage of in the Northern Territory, I would expect members opposite to be able to see the relevance of this. The member for Arafura’s seat covers the Tiwi Islands. Surely he can relate to the issues that I have been raising. We are talking about different age groups. I am talking about the availability of material that could be used by someone to influence kids. Members opposite do not have to believe it. What I am saying to Territorians is the information is available and it could be used to influence kids.
Mr Bailey: You are a sick man.
Mr REED: I have an idea who is sick, and I think I am looking at him.
Madam Speaker, I mentioned yesterday that one of the problems I have had in the past in being able to present these issues to Territorians is the sort of response that we are now getting from members opposite. They treat the serious issue of the protection of kids as a joke. I am pleased that the member for Fannie Bay asked the question because her own actions demonstrate the problem.
I refer to an interview on 27 May 1993 when the good lady was a journalist with the good old ABC. On that occasion, I was opposing very strongly the ability for couples of the same sex to avail themselves of fertility programs so that they could have children. I also opposed their ability to adopt children. When one does that, all the lobby groups come forward with criticism. Members opposite, who do not really care about these issues, weigh in with vilification. The now member for Fannie Bay put it to me in that interview that I did not have any real evidence and that it was ‘kind of anecdotal’. That is the point of the material that I will provide. It is to demonstrate to Territorians that it is available, and that it can be used to influence kids. The member for Fannie Bay does not have enough memory retention to be able to recall what she has done or said in the past.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Page 52
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I would like ministers to keep their answers much shorter. Member for Arnhem, your interjections, although not loud, are persistent. I suggest that you refrain.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is nice to see that the member for Fannie Bay is interested in these matters. The fact is that she completely misses the point. That is not strange to us because she does it all the time. She fails to grasp the nub of the question.
Members interjecting.
Ms Martin interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The movie was not directed at Northern Territory firemen or, for that matter, at any fire service.
Ms Martin: You said it was.
Mr REED: No, it is a demonstration of what could be portrayed ...
Ms Martin: You said it was.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, please listen.
Page 51
Mr REED: She does not listen. She is not listening even now. She is sitting there with a silly smirk on her face.
Mr Stone: Because she liked the movie.
Mr REED: Obviously, she is recalling some parts of the movie.
The purpose of the video was to enable me to demonstrate, in referring to these matters, that material is available that could be used by adults to demonstrate to young Territorians that ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Stone: Did you all watch the video?
Mr REED: They are not interested.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Stone: Did you all watch it?
Mr REED: Is that where you all were last night?
Mr Stone: Was it good?
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Madam Speaker, the point of the material ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The point of the material is that it could be used by an adult who wanted to influence someone in their mid-teens to demonstrate that that sort of behaviour is a normal practice in a workplace.
Mr Bailey: What 16-year-old or 18-year-old would believe that rubbish?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri clearly does not understand the sort of pressures that adults could bring to bear, and this is at a time when we have gone through a couple of years of very serious debate about ...
Mr Ah Kit: I suggest you ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Arnhem.
Mr REED: Incidents are being brought to light in relation to paedophilia by adults who have been in responsible positions, in charge of kids, or able to bring their influence to bear on them. In that context, with that argument raging over the last year or so, and some pretty horrific examples being presented of kids who have been taken advantage of in the Northern Territory, I would expect members opposite to be able to see the relevance of this. The member for Arafura’s seat covers the Tiwi Islands. Surely he can relate to the issues that I have been raising. We are talking about different age groups. I am talking about the availability of material that could be used by someone to influence kids. Members opposite do not have to believe it. What I am saying to Territorians is the information is available and it could be used to influence kids.
Mr Bailey: You are a sick man.
Mr REED: I have an idea who is sick, and I think I am looking at him.
Madam Speaker, I mentioned yesterday that one of the problems I have had in the past in being able to present these issues to Territorians is the sort of response that we are now getting from members opposite. They treat the serious issue of the protection of kids as a joke. I am pleased that the member for Fannie Bay asked the question because her own actions demonstrate the problem.
I refer to an interview on 27 May 1993 when the good lady was a journalist with the good old ABC. On that occasion, I was opposing very strongly the ability for couples of the same sex to avail themselves of fertility programs so that they could have children. I also opposed their ability to adopt children. When one does that, all the lobby groups come forward with criticism. Members opposite, who do not really care about these issues, weigh in with vilification. The now member for Fannie Bay put it to me in that interview that I did not have any real evidence and that it was ‘kind of anecdotal’. That is the point of the material that I will provide. It is to demonstrate to Territorians that it is available, and that it can be used to influence kids. The member for Fannie Bay does not have enough memory retention to be able to recall what she has done or said in the past.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Page 52
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I would like ministers to keep their answers much shorter. Member for Arnhem, your interjections, although not loud, are persistent. I suggest that you refrain.
Page 53
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016