Page 3578 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 22 October 2013
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I also acknowledge the support of the Deputy Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, who has consistently, persistently and tirelessly advocated for reform in this vital area of equality for all people in our society. I acknowledge the support of my Assembly colleague Shane Rattenbury and all of my Labor colleagues. But most of all I acknowledge the contribution of all those who have come to this debate today. Your presence here today speaks of a value and a principle deeply held in our community, of equality and of addressing unfairness.
This bill reflects the defining values of our democracy. It is premised on core principles of federalism and it reflects an approach to leadership that we hope will one day be seen in our commonwealth parliament. The bill is also a very straightforward and clear expression of section 8 of the ACT’s Human Rights Act, which provides that everyone has the right to recognition as a person before the law, that everyone has the right to enjoy his or her human rights without distinction or discrimination of any kind, and that everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to the equal protection of the law without discrimination. In particular, it provides that everyone has the right to equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground.
These principles are enshrined in our human rights legislation and they give effect to key articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The bill seeks to end arbitrary legal discrimination against same-sex couples by reaffirming the principles of equality expressed in our human rights law. It recognises that there is a clear distinction between marriage as a religious sacrament and marriage as a civil institution and it provides clear and unambiguous protections for religious freedom, an equally important right.
No minister of religion will be required to solemnise a marriage under this act and no church or other place of worship will be required to be made available for a ceremony under this law. The bill reflects this Labor government’s genuine attempt to balance the interests and protect the rights of all members in our community. We have made every effort in the drafting of this bill to ensure that the people who do not agree with it will not be affected by it. For those who are affected by it we offer this bill to you as a statement of our determination to end sex and gender discrimination.
The government is not deterred by the threat of legal proceedings. We have demonstrated that we are resolved and committed to this reform. Indeed, the tide has turned on this issue. No legal contrivance will turn us from this purpose. We acknowledge that in our laws neither sex nor gender will make one relationship more valuable than another.
The bill is based on the principle that laws made by a government for the people must be for the benefit of all the people and must not unreasonably discriminate against a minority group. We cannot say that we are a civilised country if we say to members of our community that they are bound by laws that create barriers to their full participation in society. We should have really learned this by now.
Around the turn of the last century women seeking the right to vote were told that politics did not concern them. They were told that they were not being discriminated
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