Page 2683 - Week 12 - Thursday, 16 November 1989
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At the same time, we need to be certain that the convention is not used by any misguided public instrumentality to pursue what I call the "pull" factors of human rights. We need not set up situations to entice children out of their own family units and out to refuges when all they need perhaps is some time-out, adequate counselling facilities and a loving relationship, if they have not got it with their parents. There is a need there. I recognise it as a need and to that extent I go Mr Stevenson's way, but no further.
Mr Speaker, my amendment really repeats what Senator Tate said on 2 November 1989 in answer to a question in the Senate, and I enjoin the Assembly to support it. It merely recognises what the processes of the Government are. There is one word now that I realise troubles me. It says "the draft". We will not know until the next few days whether the draft is accepted. I am happy to accept an amendment to alter it to "any draft UN convention on the rights of the child".
MS MAHER (4.59): Mr Speaker, I rise just to make a short statement. I believe that children do have rights. They have the right to live a healthy and happy life and I believe that this convention provides them with that right. I believe that parents, states and nations have a responsibility to provide children with an environment that is conducive to their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. As Mrs Grassby stated, children are our future and our future depends on them. They have the right to develop fully without being suppressed.
I do not believe that this convention in any way diminishes the right to parental guidance and authority, and I agree with Dr Kinloch when he says that in actual fact some parental guidance is in doubt. Mr Speaker, I would just like to conclude by saying that I have total faith in the experts who over the last 10 years have developed this draft convention on the rights of the child.
MR STEFANIAK (5.00): The Liberal Party will be supporting Mr Collaery's amendment. The original motion as drafted by Mr Stevenson has a number of problems in it. We believe Mr Collaery's amendment is a preferable one for this Assembly to support. Mr Speaker, in the amendment as proposed by Mr Collaery, he notes that the Federal Government will not ratify any draft UN convention until the terms of the convention are settled, and that means until the necessary amendments are made to this convention.
When Mr Stevenson introduced his motion yesterday he raised a number of concerns. I have had a look at the convention, and I have also spoken to Senator Margaret Reid who has gone through it in some detail. Whilst I would not necessarily agree with everything Mr Stevenson has said, there are a couple of places where he may perhaps have a point. Hopefully these will be taken up when this draft is
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