The Premier explains the WA Labor Party's stance on conscience votes, differentiating between 'life and death' issues like embryonic stem cell research and matters of party policy like gay law reform.

AnsweredQoN 1159Legislative Council
Asked
18 March 2002
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

LABOR PARTY, CONSCIENCE VOTES
Will the Premier please explain why members of the Government will be allowed a conscience vote when legislation that allows research on leftover embryos is introduced into Parliament but were not allowed a conscience vote on gay law reform? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of the question. The Labor Party has allowed conscience votes on life and death issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Similar questions have been raised about embryonic stem cell research. Therefore, that issue is seen in the same way and is definitely the province of a conscience vote. Ending discrimination in Western Australian society is a matter of Australian Labor Party policy and has been dealt with at an ALP conference. Therefore, a conscience vote does not apply.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of the question. The Labor Party has allowed conscience votes on life and death issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Similar questions have been raised about embryonic stem cell research. Therefore, that issue is seen in the same way and is definitely the province of a conscience vote. Ending discrimination in Western Australian society is a matter of Australian Labor Party policy and has been dealt with at an ALP conference. Therefore, a conscience vote does not apply.
I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of the question. The Labor Party has allowed conscience votes on life and death issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Similar questions have been raised about embryonic stem cell research. Therefore, that issue is seen in the same way and is definitely the province of a conscience vote. Ending discrimination in Western Australian society is a matter of Australian Labor Party policy and has been dealt with at an ALP conference. Therefore, a conscience vote does not apply.
The Labor Party has allowed conscience votes on life and death issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Similar questions have been raised about embryonic stem cell research. Therefore, that issue is seen in the same way and is definitely the province of a conscience vote. Ending discrimination in Western Australian society is a matter of Australian Labor Party policy and has been dealt with at an ALP conference. Therefore, a conscience vote does not apply.

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