Senator COONEY(8.01 p.m.) —There is just one matter that was raised by the minister which I would like to comment on. He spoke about the cost of the legal proceedings that had occurred over the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. I know that he did not intend it in this context, but I would hate the impression to be created that there was a cost on fairness and a cost on justice. Some people talk about affordable safety. Some people talk about affordable justice, and I think that is a wrong concept. It is one of the core functions of government—talking about government in terms of the three arms of government, and in that sense it is one of the core functions of government—to see justice done and to see it done to everybody no matter what their race, creed, colour, size or age. I think it sends out the wrong message when it is put that `we have got to pass this act because to go through the judicial processes would be too much'.

Beliefs, as Senator Collins says, are matters of great importance. He spoke about his belief, and it just occurred to me that he spoke about Jesus turning water into wine at Cana. He said that, although he did not believe that occurred, nevertheless it was a symbol of his general beliefs in this area. I must confess that I have a greater belief in the miracle of Cana than he has. I remember hearing a master of ceremonies in modern days testing some wine prior to a wedding feast. When he sipped an offered brand of wine, he screwed up his face and said, `If the Lord came down from Heaven, he would change this back into water.'

Senator Bob Collins —All 360 gallons of it!

Senator COONEY —I think it is the 360 gallons, rather than the transformation, that has you in doubt, Senator Collins, but perhaps they drank well in those days. But that is the point I would like to make.

Senator Bob Collins —Sounds like a wedding in the Northern Territory to me.

Senator COONEY —May I say, Senator Collins, that I do not think that anyone has represented the territory as well as you have this week—or over the years for that matter.

Senator Patterson —What about Grant Tambling?

Senator COONEY —And Grant Tambling, of course. In any event, the point I want to make, and then I will sit down, is the fact that the legal process has been truncated. I know that it has caused a great deal of distress to the Chapmans, but the process of law is important. I am sure that it is not being brought in on this basis, but if this bill was brought in on the basis that this is the only way in which we can cut costs and that this is really a cost cutting exercise, I think that would certainly send out a wrong message about how we should conduct the affairs of this society. The way the affairs of this society should be conducted is through the proper legal processes. Sure they go wrong, just as the parliament goes wrong and just as government goes wrong from time to time, but that underlying principle is important. I think it is a matter that was well described and touched on by Senator Margetts.