Robert Hart, Assistant News Editor
NICHOLSON
A PARLIAMENTARY committee looking at the establishment of a Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution is now one meeting away from concluding intense and sometimes bitter discussions started almost 15 years ago.
But during yesterday's meeting of the joint select committee examining the proposed Charter of Rights, chairman Senator A.J. Nicholson, the Minister of Justice, was at odds with Opposition members who demanded to have a late submission from a law group considered.
The Lawyers Christian Fellowship had suggested in its submission that the wording of a clause allowing the right to privacy of the individual could potentially allow homosexuality.
"If there is any possibility that we are passing anything that is permitting homosexual behaviour, let me make it clear, I am not in dat!" said Opposition member Senator Anthony Johnson, a relatively new addition to the committee.
Senator Nicholson had indicated to the committee that the law group had made its submission since the last meeting and that the issues raised had already been looked at during the years of discussion by the five successive parliamentary committees that have examined the proposed charter.
Another relatively new addition to the committee, Opposition member Mike Henry, engaged in numerous shouting matches with the chairman while arguing that the law group's submission should at the least be added to the committee's report to Parliament.
Clearly annoyed, Mr. Nicholson reiterated that the matter had already been dealt with by the committee, prior to Mr. Henry's entry, and argued that the issue of homosexuality was addressed in buggery law.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
"Behind the closed doors of Mr. and Mr. X tonight, you don't know what is happening and I don't know what is happening," Mr. Nicholson said. "Now if you open the door to the public that is a different thing."
He added: "What we are not doing in this charter is opening any door for any of those things to happen in public."
The committee members subsequently examined the recommended amendments to the proposed charter and agreed to attempt to sign off on the report next Thursday after receiving the final draft. After that just a few matters will be left, including the death penalty, for the Parliament to decide without the input of the committee.
"If it (the charter) comes back to us, I can tell you I won't be the chairman," said Senator Nicholson, admittedly frustrated with the length of time it has taken to conclude its work.
