Page 1005 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 May 2006
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I am proud to be part of a government that is the first in Australia to have a bill of rights that sets out in law our fundamental rights and freedoms. The protection of human rights in law is an important and significant step forward for our community. I hope that the leadership the Stanhope government has shown in this area will encourage other states and territories—and the commonwealth—to follow suit.
Whether or not to have an abortion is a matter for individuals, not for parliaments. Women should have the right to make their own reproductive choices, and those who have had an abortion should not be treated as criminals. I would like to commend you, Mr Speaker, for your leadership in this major reform.
Legislation alone cannot change social attitudes—but it does make a difference. The passage of the three gay and lesbian law reform bills has not eliminated homophobia in our community—but it has made a huge difference to the lives of thousands of Canberrans who previously lived as second-class citizens in our city. These reforms have also been important for families.
I believe in the family as the basic unit in Australian society, but I believe the family can take many forms. These reforms are pro-family. They strengthen relationships. What is anti-family is the declaration that the entire concept of family or marriage is on such shaky ground that enlarging the concept to include ideas beyond the 1950s white picket fence view of the world could see the whole thing fall apart. That is what diminishes family.
It is not just the thousands of gay and lesbian Canberrans whose lives have been improved by these reforms, it is the thousands of parents who want their sons and daughters to be able to live happy, productive and healthy lives without having to experience fear, hate and discrimination. It is the brothers and sisters who have seen their gay and lesbian siblings struggle with the unfairness of discriminatory laws and who have felt guilty about the unequal treatment society dishes out.
People often say that there is no major difference between the two major political parties on matters of substance. They could not be more wrong, and in this case the difference is extremely clear: only Labor is prepared to draw a line in the sand and say that we will not stand for discrimination in our city anymore.
These sorts of social reforms transform lives. They are the reason I am engaged in political life. I will always look back with great pride on my involvement in the gay law reform process.
Mr Speaker, good governments make a difference. Good governments set the social agendas for their communities. They govern as leaders rather than as followers. Many governments seek to lead from behind and to be followers of public opinion. Very few are brave enough to proactively set the social agenda. This government took a significant social agenda to the electorate and won strong support. We take pride in taking the lead on these issues in our community. That is what good government is all about.
Good government is not just about social policy, though; it is also about economic management. There is no point being in government if you cannot make people’s lives
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