Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President. As you know, I was not planning to speak on the Sexuality and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill 2003 [2004], but I was very interested in the remarks that the previous speaker had made about the elevation of Labor state governments and the Keating government. Regrettably, in a speech where undoubtedly the senator spoke with a degree of sincerity about matters that she believed in, she was still able to involve, I thought, some fairly cheap political shots, to be quite frank. I think this is unfortunate. This is a debate which the community has had for a considerable period of time, and one which will continue. But the Howard government, I think, has a very strong record in the area of human rights, and I for one would not accept that this government is second to any government in ensuring that respect for human rights and the protection of human rights. We are all aware there are significant challenges in the modern community, but this is a debate in which I think the Labor Party will emphasise issues which perhaps are not issues with many in this chamber. But there is a variety, and so my comment to you, Senator Kirk, is that you are quite entitled to put a carefully thought out argument which puts your views but it would be a help if you could avoid the odd cheap shot in an area which is a very important debate.