Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The Supreme Court did not strike down section 13 of the 1961 Act, nor was there any pressing urgency. Further, no prosecutions for blasphemy had been initiated which could not be sustained.

As I indicated, I disagree with the Minister on whether it was necessary to insert a statutory definition of blasphemy. It is unfortunate this has been done. If the interpretation had been agreed, an alternative approach was available, namely, Senator Regan's excellent verbal amendment to insert instead a proviso that the offence of-----