Community Affairs and Sport Minister Dale Butler yesterday was forced to recant his claim that promised legislation prohibiting discrimination for sexual orientation had been left out of the Throne Speech at the last moment.

He told Saturday?s : ?It should have been there. There was a line that was left out.?

But a statement released by the Government Press office yesterday said the pledge had not been left out of the Throne Speech by Cabinet or the drafters, as he had earlier believed.

Pointing out that the matter is still a work in progress, Mr. Butler said: ?The issue of including sexual orientation in the Human Rights Act is an initiative that I would have liked to have included in this year?s Throne Speech.

?Nevertheless, work on this legislative amendment is currently underway with a Cabinet Paper being prepared.

?The Cabinet Paper then has to be brought before Cabinet for approval, before it can be tabled in the House for debate.?

Mr. Butler reiterated his desire to bring the matter to the House in due course.