Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

But the point is that it is being argued. The fact that it has been argued gives us a good indication that these ideas are becoming acceptable in our society. As a parliament we need to say that they are not. We cannot accept a two-tier legal system in Australia without saying that the protection offered to some is less than that offered to others. It is a straightforward principle that I have heard affirmed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, that human rights trump cultural rights, and it is a straightforward principle that this parliament needs to put its stamp on today. We must say very strongly that all Australians are entitled to 100 per cent protection of the Australian law.

This parliament cannot legislate with respect to criminal law in the states and territories. I suspect that the passing of this legislation through the parliament will send a strong signal to them and, hopefully, provide a strong lead for them to follow. If we do not provide leadership on this issue we will, as a parliament, be found very much wanting. We need to send out the message, and send it very strongly—and I ask the state and territory parliaments to follow—that as a parliament we represent all Australians and we do not accept that cultural relativism has any place in our legal system. I strongly endorse the sentiments in this bill.

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