Page 3590 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990

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(a) an instrument ratified or acceded to by Australia; or

(b) a declaration that has been adopted by Australia -

such as a declaration on the rights of a child -

to be an international instrument relating to human rights and freedoms for the purposes of this Act.

That is a quite specific provision, Mr Stevenson, and I will not go into and detain the house on the fact that your assertion is largely and probably totally, with respect, wrong.

The United Nations convention sets children's rights firmly where they should be, not in opposition or in conflict with the rights of adults but as an integral and necessary aspect of the body of international human rights law. Last month I addressed, and we addressed jointly in this house, most of Mr Stevenson's concerns. I believe he has repeated those concerns today. I am unable to logically grapple with those arguments; nor, I suggest, are other members of the house. I say that with respect; but simply, Mr Speaker, I cannot comprehend his arguments. But I do say that on this issue the Commonwealth Government, which is ultimately responsible for the Commonwealth Parliament at election time, has spoken; it has signed the convention on behalf of Australia and I dare say and trust and hope that it will ratify it as soon as possible.

Question put:

That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 16  NOES, 1

Mr Berry Mr Stevenson
Mr Collaery
Mr Connolly
Mr Duby
Ms Follett
Mrs Grassby
Mr Humphries
Mr Jensen
Mr Kaine
Dr Kinloch
Ms Maher
Mr Moore
Mrs Nolan
Mr Prowse
Mr Stefaniak
Mr Wood

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

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